The MR imaging features of the posterior intermalleolar ligament in patients with posterior impingement syndrome of the ankle.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the MR imaging features of the posterior intermalleolar ligament (IML) in patients with posterior impingement syndrome (PIS) of the ankle. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Three patients (one male and two females, 13-25 years of age) are presented. Each patient presented clinically with symptoms of PIS of the ankle. Plain film examination was negative for a structural cause of the PIS in all patients. MR images were obtained with a 1.5 T scanner using an extremity coil. Clinical data and, in one patient, findings at ankle arthroscopy, were correlated with the results of MR imaging. RESULTS: Ankle MR images from the three patients with a clinical diagnosis of PIS are presented. Findings in all patients included: (1) absence of another structural cause of the PIS (i.e., an os trigonum, trigonal process, fracture, loose bodies, etc.), (2) identification of the IML as a structure discrete from the posterior talofibular and tibiofibular ligaments, and (3) prominence of the IML as indicated by (a) identification of the IML in three different imaging planes, and (b) a caliber of the IML comparable to that of the conventional posterior ankle ligaments visualized in the same imaging plane. Arthroscopic resection of a meniscoid IML resulted in resolution of the PIS in one of the patients presented. CONCLUSIONS: MR imaging is an effective means of investigating the IML as a potential cause of PIS. The identification of a prominent IML in the absence of another structural cause of PIS indicates that impingement of the IML is the most likely cause of PIS.
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Related Subject Headings
- Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
- Male
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Ligaments, Articular
- Humans
- Female
- Dancing
- Athletic Injuries
- Ankle Joint
- Ankle Injuries
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
- Male
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Ligaments, Articular
- Humans
- Female
- Dancing
- Athletic Injuries
- Ankle Joint
- Ankle Injuries