Change of the anterior talus-fibular ligament length of asymptomatic patients during inversion stress test

Abstract

Aim: To study the ATFL length among asymptomatic population of young patients on both joints by using the method of ultrasound examination of the ankle joint and applying the inversion stress test. Materials and Methods: the length of the ATFL was measured among 60 boys and 60 girls during the research. Sonography was performed on both joints, in each of the two studied positions, three times per position in order to obtain the average ligament length. A total of 720 examinations were conducted. Results: According to the results of sonographic research, the average length of the ATFL of the right ankle joint of young men in a neutral position was 19,08±0,3 mm, of the left one – 19,08±0,31 mm. During the inversion stress test, the length of the ligament increased on the right up to 19,65±0,3 mm, on the left – up to 19,63±0,3 mm. The average length of the ATFL of the right ankle joint of girls in neutral position was 16,92±0,2 mm, of the left one – 16,9±0,19 mm. During the inversion stress test, the length of the ligament increased on the right up to 17,37±0,2 mm, on the left – up to 17,36±0,20 mm. Statistical difference of the length of the ATFL of both joints between the neutral position and the stress test was at the level р<0,001 among boys and girls. Conclusions: Comparison of the length of the anterior talus-fibular ligament of boys and girls in different positions during testing of both joints indicates a statistically significant difference at the level (P <0,001).