Use of magnetic resonance imaging and scintigraphy for diagnosis of osteochondral fractures in acutely sprained unstable ankles

Autor: D.A. O'Farrell, M.M. Stephens, J. Stack, B. Curtin, J.P. McCabe
Rok vydání: 1996
Předmět:
Zdroj: Foot and Ankle Surgery. 2:209-214
ISSN: 1268-7731
DOI: 10.1016/s1268-7731(96)80003-8
Popis: Summary Lateral ligament injuries of the ankle are common and, while mild sprains usually heal without significant disability, more severe sprains can lead to chronic symptoms. Accurate diagnosis of the extent of the sprain facilitates correct management and rehabilitation. One hundred patients with acutely sprained ankles were evaluated. Fifty-four patients demonstrated ankle instability on stress radiographs and were referred for technetium radionuclide scanning. Twenty-one scans demonstrated increased uptake. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning of these joints demonstrated synovitis in 80%, deltoid ligament injury in 60% and unsuspected osteochrondral fractures in 10%. Bone scanning was the most sensitive investigation as it detected all five osteochondral fractures, while plain radiographs and MRI each detected three osteochrondral fractures. We conclude that ankle lateral ligament injuries should be investigated first by plain radiographs with stress views, followed by isotope scanning where an osteochondral fracture is clinically or radiographically suspected. MRI is of limited value but can provide useful information about the anatomical site and size of an osteochondral lesion.
Databáze: OpenAIRE