Measurement of Radiologic Criteria for Evaluation of the Syndesmosis in Korean Men

Kim, Jong Oh; Choi, Hyeong Yeon; Yoo, Yong Whan

Abstract

The ankle joint is the hinge joint composed of distal tibiofibula, talus and ligaments. Fractures of ankle joint are frequenty associated with ligaments ruptures and especially, as diastasis of ankle joint was easy to be overlooked, patients suffered form the pain and disability of ankle joint. Therefore, diastasis of ankle joint should be accurately diagnosed and properly treated. To obtain this goal, thorough understanding of diastasis and clear-cut diagnostic guide are important. For evaluation of differences between foreigners and Korean, authors measured the radiologic criteria for evaluation of the 100 Korean men from February 1995 to July 1995. The results obtained for this study were as follows. 1. Syndesmosis A : This is a measurement of the tibiofibular clear space form the lateral border of the posterior tibial malleous on anteroposterior(A.P.) radiograph. In Korean men, average measure ment was 3.74mm ±0.66mm. 2. Syndesmosis B : This is a measurement of the overlap form the medial border of the fibula to the lateral border of the anterior tibial prominence on A.P. radiograph. In Korean men, average measurement was 8.82mm± 1.93mm. 3. Talocrural angle : This angle is formed by a line perpendicular to the distal tibial articular surface and a line joining the tips of both malleoli on the mortise view. In Korean men, average measurement was 77.51 ± 4.94. 4. Medial clear space This is the distance from the lateral border of the medial malleoulus to the medial border of the talus at the level of the talar dome on the mortise view In Korean men, average measurement was 3.37mm ±0.66mm. 5. Talar tiIt : This angle is formed by a line drawn parallel to articular surface of the distal tibia and second line drawn parallel to the tatar surface. In Korean men, average measurement was 0.37 ± 0.68. To analyze the these results, syndesmosis A, medial clear space, and talar tiIt were similar to foreigners and Korean men, but syndesmosis B and talocrural angle were lower value in Korean men than in froeigners.