Analysis of ankle−hindfoot stability in patients with ankle instability and normals

Purpose We devised a testing apparatus for in vivo analysis of ankle stability. The purpose of the study was to test the reliability of this apparatus and to determine the stability pattern of the ankle−hindfoot complex in healthy, asymptomatic volunteers and in patients with ankle instability. Meth...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International orthopaedics 2012-01, Vol.36 (1), p.89-94
Main Authors: Watanabe, Kota, Fujii, Tadashi, Kitaoka, Harold B., Kotajarvi, Brian R., Luo, Zong-Ping, An, Kai-Nan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Ankle - physiopathology
Ankle Joint - physiopathology
Asymptomatic Diseases
Feasibility Studies
Female
Humans
Joint Instability - physiopathology
Leg - physiopathology
Ligaments, Articular - physiopathology
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Original Paper
Orthopedics
Range of Motion, Articular
Reference Values
Reproducibility of Results
Rotation
Torque
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Summary:Purpose We devised a testing apparatus for in vivo analysis of ankle stability. The purpose of the study was to test the reliability of this apparatus and to determine the stability pattern of the ankle−hindfoot complex in healthy, asymptomatic volunteers and in patients with ankle instability. Methods Ten healthy individuals were studied, and testing was repeated on the same day and different days. Three patients with symptomatic, unstable ankles were also tested on both involved and uninvolved sides. Constant inversion torque was applied, then internal rotation torque, while moving the ankle throughout the range of sagittal motion. Three-dimensional kinematics of the ankle−hindfoot complex were measured by an electromagnetic tracking system. Results Measurements were repeatable, with intraclass correlation coefficients 0.9 or better. Variability was observed among controls, but motion curve patterns were consistent. Motion curve slopes were sensitive in differentiating between unstable and stable ankles. Conclusions Most previous reports are in vitro studies conducted with the ankle in one position, manual stress applied, or joint positions estimated with planar radiographs. Our study indicated that more accurate diagnosis of severity of ankle ligament injuries may be possible.
ISSN:0341-2695
1432-5195
DOI:10.1007/s00264-011-1376-6