Ankle Gutter Anatomy

Anterior ankle impingement is a source of chronic ankle pain seen in athletes that complain of longstanding chronic pain in the front of their ankle.

Ankle gutter anatomy.

The fibular collateral ligament complex provides further lateral support to the ankle. Ankle anatomy normal ap mortise. The joint extends into the lateral gutter 1 and the medial gutter 2 the joint is evenly spaced throughout. The lateral collateral ligament complex is comprised of the anterior talofibular ligament atfl the calcaneofibular ligament cfl and the posterior talo fibular ligament ptfl.

3 during an inversion ankle injury the anterior talofibular ligament and calcaneofibular ligament are affected as is the distal syndesmosis. There is adjacent mild to moderate tendinosis and tenosynovitis involving the tibialis posterior and flexor digitorum longus tendons. The anterolateral ankle gutter is the most common site of ankle impingement. The distal tibia and fibula articulate with each other at the distal tibiofibular joint which is more commonly referred to as the tibiofibular syndesmosis or simply the syndesmosis.

The medial ankle gutter is comprised of the medial malleolus and medial talar articulation with the deep fibers of the deltoid ligament encountered inferiorly. The iateral ankle gutter is comprised of the articulation between the fibula and talar dome with the lateral collateral ligaments encountered inferiorly. It is located slightly posterior to the medial malleolus which allows a larger exposure of the lateral wall of the talus along the lateral gutter as compared with the medial aspect of the ankle joint. The cfl is by far the strongest of these.

Anterior ankle impingement typically occurs in athletes who have played years in sports that involve a kicking motion or repeated ankle extremes of motion. Anterolateral impingement of the ankle is a relatively uncommon cause of chronic lateral ankle pain produced by entrapment of abnormal soft tissue in the anterolateral gutter of the ankle 2 4. Anterolateral impingement is thought to occur subsequent to relatively minor inversion injuries of the ankle. The weight bearing portion is formed by the tibial plafond and the talar dome.

Anatomy the ankle is a synovial joint composed of the distal tibia and fibula as they articulate with the talus. This joint due to its orientation allows the movements of inversion 0 35 degrees and eversion 0 25 degrees broken down this must mean the joint allows some amount of glide and rotation. The corresponding posterior facet on the superior surface of the calcaneus. It is known as a simple synovial condyloid joint.