What is the common mechanism of a syndesmotic sprain?
A syndesmotic, or ‘high’ ankle sprain is one that involves the ligaments binding the distal tibia and fibula at the Distal Tibiofibular Syndesmosis. Injuries can occur with any ankle motion, but the most common motions are extreme external rotation or dorsiflexion of the Talus.
How does a syndesmosis injury occur?
A syndesmosis injury occurs when the foot twists outwards relative to the leg, a so-called external rotation injury. 2 This type of injury can occur when the ankle is forcefully twisted outwards, or when the foot is planted, and the leg twists inwards.
What is a mechanism of injury for a sprain?
The most common mechanism of injury in ankle sprains is a combination of plantar flexion and inversion. The lateral stabilizing ligaments, which include the anterior talofibular, calcaneofibular and posterior talofibular ligaments, are most often damaged.
What ligaments are involved in a syndesmosis sprain?
The distal tibia and fibula are held tightly together by the syndesmosis membrane, and the anterior and posterior tibiofibular ligaments. A syndesmotic sprain or high ankle sprain is an injury to the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis with possible disruption of the distal tibiofibular ligaments and interosseous membrane.
What is Syndesmotic injury?
The term syndesmotic injury is used to describe a lesion of the ligaments that connect the distal fibula and the tibial notch surrounded on both sides by the anterior and posterior tibial tubercles, with or without an associated injury of the deltoid ligament.
What are syndesmosis injuries?
A syndesmotic ankle sprain is an injury to one or more of the ligaments comprising the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis; it is often referred to as a “high ankle sprain.” Compared with the more common lateral ankle sprain, the high ankle sprain causes pain more proximally, just above the ankle joint, and is associated …
What was the mechanism of injury?
– What was the mechanism of injury? Mechanism of injury (MOI) is the force or forces that cause injury when applied to the human body. Forces have characteristics such as speed, size and direction.
What is a syndesmosis injury?
What is the syndesmosis?
A syndesmosis is defined as a fibrous joint in which two adjacent bones are linked by a strong membrane or ligaments. This definition also applies for the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis, which is a syndesmotic joint formed by two bones and four ligaments.
What are the mechanisms of syndesmosis injury?
A variety of mechanisms individually or combined can cause syndesmosis injury. The most common mechanisms, individually and particularly in combination, are external rotation and hyperdorsiflexion. Both cause a widening of the mortise, resulting in disruption of the syndesmosis and talar instability.
What is the prevalence of Syndesmosis sprains?
Much research has focused on injury to the lateral ankle ligaments and inversion ankle sprains. However, literature on injuries to the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis is limited. Compared with the lateral ankle sprain, syndesmosis sprains (sometimes called high ankle sprains) are uncommon and noted less frequently.
What is the pathophysiology of syndesmotic ankle sprains?
Norwig writes “Syndesmotic ankle sprains can usually be distinguished from inversion ankle sprains by a history of an external rotation component.” Other possible pathologies are medial ankle sprain, compartment syndrome, severe joint laxity, severe contusion, dystrophic calcification, infection, or tumor.
Is syndesmotic fusion the best treatment for subacute ligament injuries?
Subacute injuries may require ligamentoplasty and chronic lesions are best treated by syndesmotic fusion. However, knowledge about syndesmotic injuries is still limited as recommendations for surgical treatment are only based on level IV and V evidence. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev2017;2:403–409. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.2.160084