• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.60-66
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• 2010

In chronic ambulatory hemiplegic patients, structural changes might be developed at both ankles possibly due to unequal and repetitive weight bearing on tendons and ligaments. We examined ankles by sonography to find out structural changes of tendons and ligaments of both ankles in ambulatory hemiplegic patients. Nineteen ambulatory hemiplegic patients over 1 year were included as study subjects. All subjects had no previous trauma or disease history in their ankle joints and they were able to walk independently or with supervision but had spastic ankles with equinovarus tendency. We examined both ankle joints by sonography to see joint effusion and measure width, thickness, and area of tendons of the tibialis anterior, tibialis posterior, and Achilles, and also ligaments of the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular. We compared sonographic features of the hemi-side ankle with the sound-side ankle. There were no significant differences between hemi-side and sound-side ankles in almost all measured parameters of tendons and ligaments. However, the width of the hemi-side tibialis posterior tendon ($7.24{\pm}1.52$ mm) was narrower than the sound-side tendon ($8.61{\pm}1.37$ mm). With the amount of active joint motion and weight bearing possibly preventing ligament and tendon atrophy even though marked weakness, spasticity occurred during the chronic hemiplegic phase.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.19-23
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• 2008

Purpose: Several methods of anatomical reconstruction for chronic lateral ankle instability has been reported to avoid the problems of nonanatomical reconstruction. Precise reconstruction of the normal anatomy is essential to the restoration of normal joint mechanics and stability. The problem with anatomical reconstruction is that it is very difficult to reconstruct the normal anatomic course of the ligaments. We thought making one tunnel at the fibular attachment of anterior talofibular ligament and calcaneofibular ligament was more anatomical than making separate tunnels for each ligaments because the two ligaments are contiguous. In this article, the basis of anatomical reconstruction of the lateral ankle ligaments was reviewed and a technique of reconstruction using semitendinosus was introduced.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.117-125
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• 2021

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate biological ligament healing quantitatively after suture-tape augmentation for chronic lateral ankle instability. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at a minimum of 2 years after lateral ligament augmentation using suture-tape. Signal/noise ratios (SNRs) and widths of anterior talofibular ligaments (ATFLs) were measured on preoperative and postoperative MRI by three researchers. ATFL biological healing degrees were analyzed using changes in SNRs and widths of ATFLs and by comparing these metrics with those of normal contralateral ankles. Clinical evaluations were performed using foot and ankle outcome scores (FAOSs), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) scores, and ankle stress radiographs. Results: Mean FAOS and FAAM scores improved significantly from 62.4 to 93.6 and 58.3 to 92.3, respectively, at final follow-up (p<0.001). Mean SNRs and ATFL widths improved insignificantly from 8.49 to 8.21 and 2.07 to 2.15 mm, respectively, at final follow-up (p=0.424, p=0.718). Significant differences in mean SNRs and ATFL widths were found between ipsilateral and contralateral sides (p<0.001, p=0.002). Spearman's correlation analysis revealed no significant association between clinical outcomes and degrees of biological healing of ATFLs based on MRI findings. Conclusion: Despite improvements in clinical outcome measures, the effects of suture-tape augmentation for chronic lateral ankle instability on biological ligament healing were insignificant. In addition, no significant correlation was found between clinical outcomes and degrees of biological healing of ATFLs.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.173-182
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• 2019

Purpose: This study determined if anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL)/superior extensor ankle retinaculum (SEAR) thicknesses are related to dynamic balance in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Materials and Methods: The subjects were 14 males and 15 females (age=24.52±3.46 years). Ankle instability was assessed using the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) with a cut off score of 25 to define two groups. SonoSite MTurbo (Fugifilm Sonosite, Inc.) musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSKUS) unit was used to assess ATFL and SEAR thicknesses. Dynamic balance was measured with the Y Balance Test (YBT) and two NeuroCom balance tests. Results: There were no significant differences in the average ATFL thickness between stable and unstable ankles in those subjects with CAI (0.25±0.03 cm and 0.21±0.05 cm, respectively) or in the SEAR thickness (0.09±0.04 cm and 0.10±0.03 cm, respectively). There were also no significant differences in the right and left ATFL thicknesses (0.23±0.07 cm and 0.21±0.04 cm, respectively) or the SEAR thicknesses (0.09±0.01 cm and 0.09±0.01 cm, respectively) in those without CAI. There were no differences between limbs in composite scores on YBT in those with CAI (p=0.35) and those without CAI (p=0.33). There was a moderate correlation between the left SEAR thickness and the large forward/backward perturbations on the NeuroCom (Natus) motor control test (r=0.51, p=0.006 and r=0.54, p=0.003, respectively). Conclusion: There were no differences in the ATFL/SEAR thicknesses or balance measures between or within the groups, likely because CAI is multi-factorial and related to mechanisms other than tissue changes alone. More sensitive technology and a better definition of the measurement process may provide more definitive results.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.384-394
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• 2021

Objective: To quantitatively assess biochemical alterations in the cartilage of the subtalar and midtarsal joints in chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) patients with isolated anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) injuries and combined calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) injuries using MRI T2 mapping. Materials and Methods: This study was performed according to regulations of the Committee for Human Research at our institution, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Forty CLAI patients (26 with isolated ATFL injuries and 14 with combined ATFL and CFL injuries) and 25 healthy subjects were recruited for this study. All participants underwent MRI scans with T2 mapping. Patients were assessed with the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) rating system. The subtalar and midtarsal joints were segmented into 14 cartilage subregions. The T2 value of each subregion was measured from T2 mapping images. Data were analyzed with ANOVA, the Student's t test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: T2 values of most subregions of the subtalar joint and the calcaneal facet of the calcaneocuboid joint in CLAI patients with combined CFL injuries were higher than those in healthy controls (all p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in T2 values in subtalar and midtarsal joints between patients with isolated ATFL injuries and healthy controls (all p > 0.05). Moreover, T2 values of the medial talar subregions of the posterior subtalar joint in patients with combined CFL injuries showed negative correlations with the AOFAS scores (r = -0.687, p = 0.007; r = -0.609, p = 0.021, respectively). Conclusion: CLAI with combined CFL injuries can lead to cartilage degeneration in subtalar and calcaneocuboid joints, while an isolated ATFL injury might not have a significant impact on the cartilage in these joints.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2005

Purpose: We report our results of arthroscopic treatment of symptomatic avulsion fracture of the malleolus in chronic ankle pain, and also analyzed the clinical and radiological features for evaluating the good candidate for arthroscopic treatment. Materials and Methods: Fourteen patients who were diagnosed with intra-articular avulsion fractures of the malleolus received arthroscopic surgery and were followed up for at least a year. The clinical and radiological characters including MRI and arthroscopic findings were reviewed. Clinical assessments were done according to the AOFAS score system. Results: There was a history of inversion type of the injury in most cases and local tenderness of lesion site was a unique. MRI study showed thickened anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) in 8 cases (57%) and discontinued ATFL in 3 cases (21%). Enhanced signal surrounding soft tissue corresponding to synovial inflammation and impingement was found in 12 cases (86%). Preoperative score of all patients were $74.0{\pm}5.5$, which improved to $89.3{\pm}6.7$ at the follow-up after the treatment (P<0.001). Conclusion: Most patients had history of injury and localized tenderness in the area coinciding with radiological findings. Thickened ATFL and contrast enhancement around the ossicle were frequently found. Symptomatic avulsion fractures of the malleolus associated with the clinical and radiological findings above could be a good candidate for arthroscopic treatment.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of ankle stress radiograph for evaluation of chronic lateral ankle instability. Materials and Methods: Among patients undergoing the modified-Brostrom procedure, 42 cases with complete rupture of the anterior talofibular ligament were enrolled in this study. Sixty Korean adults (120 cases) were recruited as the control group. Radiologic measurement of talar tilt and anterior talar translation was performed through stress radiographs using Telos device. We obtained the normal range of Korean adults, and used as a standard value for judgment of mechanical instability. We analyzed the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative prediction value of ankle stress radiograph. Results: On ankle stress radiograph, normal range of talar tilt angle and anterior talar translation was below $8.3^{\circ}$, below 7.6mm. Talar tilt angle on varus stress radiograph showed 57% of sensitivity, 97% of specificity, 89% of positive and 86% of negative prediction value. Anterior talar translation on anterior drawer stress radiograph showed 69% of sensitivity, 97% of specificity, 91% of positive and 90% of negative prediction value. Conclusion: Ankle stress radiograph had a good specificity, positive and negative prediction value for the evaluation of mechanical instability. However it underestimated the mechanical instability of ankle joint. It must be remembered that normal stress radiograph does not exclude ankle instability.