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Management of chronic disruption of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis
Wataru Miyamoto, Masato Takao, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan
Author contributions: Miyamoto W and Takao M contributed to this editorial.
Correspondence to: Wataru Miyamoto, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan. miyamoto@med.teikyo-u.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-3-39644097 Fax: +81-3-39641211
Received: November 8, 2010
Revised: December 28, 2010
Accepted: January 5, 2011
Published online: January 18, 2011
Revised: December 28, 2010
Accepted: January 5, 2011
Published online: January 18, 2011
Abstract
Disruption of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis is frequently accompanied by rotational ankle fracture such as pronation-external rotation and rarely occurs without ankle fracture. In such injury, not only inadequately treated or misdiagnosed cases, but also correctly diagnosed cases can possibly result in a chronic pattern which is more troublesome to treat than an acute pattern. This paper reviews anatomical and biomechanical characteristics of the distal tibiofibular joint, the mechanism of chronic disruption of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis, radiological and arthroscopic diagnosis, and surgical treatment.
Keywords: Ankle; Chronic injury; Distal tibiofibular joint; Distal tibiofibular syndesmosis; Surgical treatment