Talofibular Ligament Injury

Background

Ligamentous injuries of the ankle are common among athletes.[1, 2] Inversion injuries of the ankle account for 40% of all athletic injuries. The anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) are sequentially the most commonly injured ligaments when a plantar-flexed foot is forcefully inverted. The posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL) is rarely injured, except in association with a complete dislocation of the talus.[3, 4, 5]

Ligamentous injuries of the ankle are classified into the following 3 categories, depending on the extent of damage to the ligaments:[6, 7, 8, 9, 10]

Grade I is an injury without macroscopic tears. No mechanical instability is noted. Pain and tenderness is minimal.Grade II is a partial tear. Moderate pain and tenderness is present. Mild to moderate joint instability may be present.Grade III is a complete tear. Severe pain and tenderness, inability to bear weight, and significant joint instability are noted.

For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicineHealth's First Aid and Injuries Center. Also, see eMedicineHealth's patient education articles Ankle Sprain and Sprains and Strains.

Related Medscape Reference topics:

Ankle Impingement Syndrome

Ankle Sprain

Ankle Taping and Bracing

Related Medscape resources

Resource Center Exercise and Sports Medicine

Resource Center Joint Disorders

Specialty Site Orthopaedics

NextEpidemiologyFrequencyUnited States

Approximately 3600 cases of talofibular ligament injury per 100,000 people are reported per year.

PreviousNextFunctional Anatomy

The lateral articular capsule of the ankle can be divided into anterior and posterior segments. The anterior segment attaches proximally to the anterior portion of the distal tibia superior to the articular surface and to the border of the articular surface of the medial malleolus. The posterior segment attaches distally to the talus just posterior to its superior articular facet and attaches laterally to the depression in the medial surface of the lateral malleolus.[3, 4, 5]

The ATFL is intracapsular and attaches anteriorly to the anterior border of the distal fibula and laterally to the neck of the talus. The PTFL attaches posteriorly to the digital fossa of the fibula and laterally to the lateral tubercle on the posterior portion of the talus.

PreviousNextSport-Specific Biomechanics

The talofibular ligaments along with the CFL are components of the lateral ligament complex. This complex becomes stressed when the ankle is inverted and plantar flexed.[11] Supination of the foot in neutral flexion usually results in injury of the CFL. Supination and adduction injuries tear both the ATFL and the CFL.

The PTFL is the strongest of the lateral ligaments, and extreme inversion with plantar flexion is required to place the PTFL under stress; as a result, the PTFL is less commonly injured.[11] Transient subluxation or dislocation of the talus from the tibial mortise usually results in injury of all 3 lateral ligaments. Prevention of anterior displacement of the talus is primarily a function of the ATFL. Little additional motion occurs when the CFL also is damaged. Instability to inversion is greater when both the CFL and the ATFL are injured than when either ligament is injured alone.

PreviousProceed to Clinical Presentation , Talofibular Ligament Injury