The use of sonography in the diagnosis of fresh talofibular ligamentous lesions

Sonography of the ankle joint is a simple method of exploring articular soft tissue. 100 patients with acute injury of the lateral ligaments were examined with a 7.5 MHz linear array transducer. Diagnostic criteria were haematoma and capsular deformation. Sonographic findings were assessed by stress films (n = 94), arthrography (n = 29) and operative evaluation (n = 28). In 94 of 100 joints, acute injury could be demonstrated with sonography. In most cases sonography was able to differentiate the site of the lesion: anterior talofibular or fibulocalcaneal ligament. The positive predictive value in relation to the operative findings is 100% for talofibular ligament and 96% for fibulocalcaneal ligament.