FOOTPRINT ANALYSIS OF THE LATERAL LIGAMENTS OF THE ANKLE: A NEW APPROACH
Authors: Mok Sophie , Almaghtuf Nessrin , Paxton Jennifer 
Published: November 2023

The lateral ligaments of the ankle composed of the anterior talofibular (ATFL), calcaneofibular (CFL) and posterior talofibular ligaments (PTFL), are amongst the most commonly injured ligaments of the human body. Although treatment methods have been explored exhaustively, healing outcomes remain poor with high rates of re-injury, chronic ankle instability and pain persisting. The introduction and application of tissue engineering methods may target poor healing outcomes and eliminate long-term complications, improving the overall quality of life of affected individuals. For any surgical procedure or tissue-engineered replacement to be successful, a comprehensive understanding of the complete anatomy of the native structure is essential. Knowledge of the dimensions of ligament footprints is vitally important for surgeons as it guides the placement of bone tunnels during repair. It is also imperative in tissue-engineered design as the creation of a successful replacement relies on a thorough understanding of the native anatomy and microanatomical structure. Several studies explore techniques to describe ligament footprints around the body, with limited studies describing in-depth footprint dimensions of the ATFL, CFL and PTFL. Techniques currently used to measure ligament footprints are complex and require resources which may not be readily available, therefore a new methodology may prove beneficial.

Objectives

This study explores the application of a novel technique to assess the footprint of ankle ligaments through a straightforward inking method. This method aims to enhance surgical technique and contribute to the development of a tissue-engineered analogue based on real anatomical morphometric data.

Methods

Cadaveric dissection of the ATFL, CFL and PTFL was performed on 12 unpaired fresh frozen ankles adhering to regulations of the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act. The ankle complex with attaching ligaments was immersed in methylene blue. Dissection of the proximal and distal entheses of each ligament was carried out to reveal the unstained ligament footprint. Images of each ligament footprint were taken, and the area, length and width of each footprint were assessed digitally.

Results

The collective area of the proximal entheses of the ATFL, CFL and PTFL measures 142.11 ± 12.41mm2. The mean areas of the superior (SB) and inferior band (IB) of the distal enthesis of the ATFL measured 41.72 ± 5.01mm2 and 26.66 ± 3.12mm2 respectively. The footprint of the distal enthesis of the CFL measured 146.07 ± 14.05mm2, while the footprint of the distal PTFL measured 126.26 ± 8.88mm2. The proximal footprint of the ATFL, CFL and PTFL measured 11.06 ± 0.69mm, 7.87 ± 0.43mm and 10.52 ± 0.63mm in length and 8.66 ± 0.50mm, 9.10 ± 0.92mm and 14.41 ± 1.30mm in width on average. The distal footprint of the ATFL (SB), ATFL (IB), CFL and PTFL measured 10.92 ± 0.81 mm, 8.46 ± 0.46mm, 13.98 ± 0.93mm and 11.25 ± 0.95mm in length and 7.76 ± 0.59mm, 7.51 ± 0.64mm, 18.98 ± 1.15mm and 24.80 ± 1.25mm in width on average.

Conclusions

This methodology provides an effective approach in the identification of the footprint of the lateral ligaments of the ankle to enhance surgical precision and accuracy in tissue-engineered design.

Declaration of Interest

(b) declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported:I declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.