• Y Cheng, Y Cai, and Y Wang.
• Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Fudan University Affiliated Huashan Hospital, Shanghai China.
• Br J Radiol. 2014 Jan 1; 87 (1033): 20130406.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of chronic lateral ankle ligament injury.MethodsA total of 120 ankles in 120 patients with a clinical suspicion of chronic ankle ligament injury were examined by ultrasonography by using a 5- to 17-MHz linear array transducer before surgery. The results of ultrasonography were compared with the operative findings.ResultsThere were 18 sprains and 24 partial and 52 complete tears of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL); 26 sprains, 27 partial and 12 complete tears of the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL); and 1 complete tear of the posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL) at arthroscopy and operation. Compared with operative findings, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ultrasonography were 98.9%, 96.2% and 84.2%, respectively, for injury of the ATFL and 93.8%, 90.9% and 83.3%, respectively, for injury of the CFL. The PTFL tear was identified by ultrasonography. The accuracy of identification between acute-on-chronic and subacute-chronic patients did not differ. The accuracies of diagnosing three grades of ATFL injuries were almost the same as those of diagnosing CFL injuries.ConclusionUltrasonography provides useful information for the evaluation of patients presenting with chronic pain after ankle sprain.Advances In KnowledgeIntraoperative findings are the reference standard. We demonstrated that ultrasonography was highly sensitive and specific in detecting chronic lateral ligments injury of the ankle joint.

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