Bilateral Comparison of the Three-dimensional Configuration in the Normal Ankle Syndesmosis: A non-Weightbearing and Weightbearing CT-analysis

Category: Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Syndesmotic ankle injuries can be present in up to one-fifth of all ankle trauma and may lead to syndesmotic instability or posttraumatic ankle osteoarthirtis on the long term. It remains challenging to distinguish syndesmotic ankle injuries from other types of...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Greg Tsarukian MD, Matthias Peiffer, Alexej Barg MD, Wouter Huysse, Yantarat Sripanich MD, Aline C. Van Oevelen, Kristian Buedts MD, Emmanuel Audenaert MD, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2020-10-01
Series:Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/2473011420S00469
_version_ 1818341313058177024
author Greg Tsarukian MD
Matthias Peiffer
Alexej Barg MD
Wouter Huysse
Yantarat Sripanich MD
Aline C. Van Oevelen
Kristian Buedts MD
Emmanuel Audenaert MD, PhD
author_facet Greg Tsarukian MD
Matthias Peiffer
Alexej Barg MD
Wouter Huysse
Yantarat Sripanich MD
Aline C. Van Oevelen
Kristian Buedts MD
Emmanuel Audenaert MD, PhD
author_sort Greg Tsarukian MD
collection DOAJ
description Category: Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Syndesmotic ankle injuries can be present in up to one-fifth of all ankle trauma and may lead to syndesmotic instability or posttraumatic ankle osteoarthirtis on the long term. It remains challenging to distinguish syndesmotic ankle injuries from other types of ankle trauma. Currently, diagnosis is based on plain radiographs by comparing 2D measurements of the injured to the non-injured side. However, it is unclear to what extent the 3D configuration of the normal ankle syndesmosis is symmetrical during non- or weightbearing conditions. Therefore, our aim was two-fold (1) to establish reference values based on three-dimensional side-to-side comparison of the normal ankle syndesmosis imaged by a non-weightbearing (NWBCT) and weightbearing CT (WBCT) (2) to compare measurements obtained from a NWBCT with those of a WBCT. Methods: In this retrospective comparative cohort study, patients with a NWBCT (N=38; Mean age=51+-17.4 years) and WBCT (N=43; Mean age=48+-14.3 years) were analyzed. Inclusion criteria were a bilateral NWBCT or WBCT of the foot and ankle between January 2016 and December 2018. Exclusion criteria consisted of hindfoot pathology and an age <18 years or >75 years. CT images were segmented to obtain 3D models. Computer Aided Design (CAD) operations were used to mirror the left ankle and superimpose it over the right ankle (Fig. 1A). The apex of the lateral malleolus (AML), anterior tubercle (ATF) and posterior tubercle (PTF) were determined. The difference in the coordinates attached to these anatomical landmarks of the left distal fibula in the ankle syndesmosis with respect to the right were used to establish reference values within two standard deviations. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare measurements from a NWBCT with a WBCT. Results: Reference values within two standard deviations are given for each 3D measurement derived from a NWBCT and WBCT-scan (Fig 1B). The highest difference in translation was detected in the anterior-posterior direction (Mean APNWBCT= 0.161mm; 2SD=3.212/ Mean APWBCT= -0.082mm; 2SD=2.374). The highest difference in rotation was detected in the external- internal direction (Mean EINWBCT= -0.484°; 2SD=8.720/ Mean EIWBCT= -0,326°; 2SD=5.370). None of these differences were statistically significant in the normal ankle syndesmosis when obtained from a NWBCT scan compared to a WBCT scan (P>0.05). Conclusion: This study provides reference values of the three-dimensional configuration in the normal ankle syndesmosis based on side-to-side comparison. It did not demonstrate significant differences in the normal ankle syndesmosis between NWBT and WBCT scans. These novel 3D data contribute relevantly to previously established bilateral 2D radiographic reference values. In clinical practice, they will aid in distinguishing if a patient with a syndesmotic ankle lesion differs from normal variance in syndesmotic ankle symmetry.
first_indexed 2024-12-13T15:56:48Z
format Article
id doaj.art-94dcd8c3ba244357b780ab0d112780ba
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2473-0114
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-13T15:56:48Z
publishDate 2020-10-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
record_format Article
series Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics
spelling doaj.art-94dcd8c3ba244357b780ab0d112780ba2022-12-21T23:39:17ZengSAGE PublishingFoot & Ankle Orthopaedics2473-01142020-10-01510.1177/2473011420S00469Bilateral Comparison of the Three-dimensional Configuration in the Normal Ankle Syndesmosis: A non-Weightbearing and Weightbearing CT-analysisGreg Tsarukian MDMatthias PeifferAlexej Barg MDWouter HuysseYantarat Sripanich MDAline C. Van OevelenKristian Buedts MDEmmanuel Audenaert MD, PhDCategory: Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Syndesmotic ankle injuries can be present in up to one-fifth of all ankle trauma and may lead to syndesmotic instability or posttraumatic ankle osteoarthirtis on the long term. It remains challenging to distinguish syndesmotic ankle injuries from other types of ankle trauma. Currently, diagnosis is based on plain radiographs by comparing 2D measurements of the injured to the non-injured side. However, it is unclear to what extent the 3D configuration of the normal ankle syndesmosis is symmetrical during non- or weightbearing conditions. Therefore, our aim was two-fold (1) to establish reference values based on three-dimensional side-to-side comparison of the normal ankle syndesmosis imaged by a non-weightbearing (NWBCT) and weightbearing CT (WBCT) (2) to compare measurements obtained from a NWBCT with those of a WBCT. Methods: In this retrospective comparative cohort study, patients with a NWBCT (N=38; Mean age=51+-17.4 years) and WBCT (N=43; Mean age=48+-14.3 years) were analyzed. Inclusion criteria were a bilateral NWBCT or WBCT of the foot and ankle between January 2016 and December 2018. Exclusion criteria consisted of hindfoot pathology and an age <18 years or >75 years. CT images were segmented to obtain 3D models. Computer Aided Design (CAD) operations were used to mirror the left ankle and superimpose it over the right ankle (Fig. 1A). The apex of the lateral malleolus (AML), anterior tubercle (ATF) and posterior tubercle (PTF) were determined. The difference in the coordinates attached to these anatomical landmarks of the left distal fibula in the ankle syndesmosis with respect to the right were used to establish reference values within two standard deviations. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare measurements from a NWBCT with a WBCT. Results: Reference values within two standard deviations are given for each 3D measurement derived from a NWBCT and WBCT-scan (Fig 1B). The highest difference in translation was detected in the anterior-posterior direction (Mean APNWBCT= 0.161mm; 2SD=3.212/ Mean APWBCT= -0.082mm; 2SD=2.374). The highest difference in rotation was detected in the external- internal direction (Mean EINWBCT= -0.484°; 2SD=8.720/ Mean EIWBCT= -0,326°; 2SD=5.370). None of these differences were statistically significant in the normal ankle syndesmosis when obtained from a NWBCT scan compared to a WBCT scan (P>0.05). Conclusion: This study provides reference values of the three-dimensional configuration in the normal ankle syndesmosis based on side-to-side comparison. It did not demonstrate significant differences in the normal ankle syndesmosis between NWBT and WBCT scans. These novel 3D data contribute relevantly to previously established bilateral 2D radiographic reference values. In clinical practice, they will aid in distinguishing if a patient with a syndesmotic ankle lesion differs from normal variance in syndesmotic ankle symmetry.https://doi.org/10.1177/2473011420S00469
spellingShingle Greg Tsarukian MD
Matthias Peiffer
Alexej Barg MD
Wouter Huysse
Yantarat Sripanich MD
Aline C. Van Oevelen
Kristian Buedts MD
Emmanuel Audenaert MD, PhD
Bilateral Comparison of the Three-dimensional Configuration in the Normal Ankle Syndesmosis: A non-Weightbearing and Weightbearing CT-analysis
Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics
title Bilateral Comparison of the Three-dimensional Configuration in the Normal Ankle Syndesmosis: A non-Weightbearing and Weightbearing CT-analysis
title_full Bilateral Comparison of the Three-dimensional Configuration in the Normal Ankle Syndesmosis: A non-Weightbearing and Weightbearing CT-analysis
title_fullStr Bilateral Comparison of the Three-dimensional Configuration in the Normal Ankle Syndesmosis: A non-Weightbearing and Weightbearing CT-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Bilateral Comparison of the Three-dimensional Configuration in the Normal Ankle Syndesmosis: A non-Weightbearing and Weightbearing CT-analysis
title_short Bilateral Comparison of the Three-dimensional Configuration in the Normal Ankle Syndesmosis: A non-Weightbearing and Weightbearing CT-analysis
title_sort bilateral comparison of the three dimensional configuration in the normal ankle syndesmosis a non weightbearing and weightbearing ct analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1177/2473011420S00469
work_keys_str_mv AT gregtsarukianmd bilateralcomparisonofthethreedimensionalconfigurationinthenormalanklesyndesmosisanonweightbearingandweightbearingctanalysis
AT matthiaspeiffer bilateralcomparisonofthethreedimensionalconfigurationinthenormalanklesyndesmosisanonweightbearingandweightbearingctanalysis
AT alexejbargmd bilateralcomparisonofthethreedimensionalconfigurationinthenormalanklesyndesmosisanonweightbearingandweightbearingctanalysis
AT wouterhuysse bilateralcomparisonofthethreedimensionalconfigurationinthenormalanklesyndesmosisanonweightbearingandweightbearingctanalysis
AT yantaratsripanichmd bilateralcomparisonofthethreedimensionalconfigurationinthenormalanklesyndesmosisanonweightbearingandweightbearingctanalysis
AT alinecvanoevelen bilateralcomparisonofthethreedimensionalconfigurationinthenormalanklesyndesmosisanonweightbearingandweightbearingctanalysis
AT kristianbuedtsmd bilateralcomparisonofthethreedimensionalconfigurationinthenormalanklesyndesmosisanonweightbearingandweightbearingctanalysis
AT emmanuelaudenaertmdphd bilateralcomparisonofthethreedimensionalconfigurationinthenormalanklesyndesmosisanonweightbearingandweightbearingctanalysis