MRI in Acute Ankle Sprains: Should We Be More Aggressive with Indications?

Eun Hae Park; Cesar de Cesar Netto; Jan Fritz

doi:10.1016/j.fcl.2023.01.011

MRI in Acute Ankle Sprains: Should We Be More Aggressive with Indications?

Foot Ankle Clin. 2023 Jun;28(2):231-264. doi: 10.1016/j.fcl.2023.01.011.

Authors

Eun Hae Park¹, Cesar de Cesar Netto², Jan Fritz³

Affiliations

¹ Division of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Department of Radiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 660 1St Ave, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Radiology, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
² Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Dr, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
³ Division of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Department of Radiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 660 1St Ave, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10016, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 37137621
DOI: 10.1016/j.fcl.2023.01.011

Abstract

Acute ankle sprains are common sports injuries. MRI is the most accurate test for assessing the integrity and severity of ligament injuries in acute ankle sprains. However, MRI may not detect syndesmotic and hindfoot instability, and many ankle sprains are treated conservatively, questioning the value of MRI. In our practice, MRI adds value in confirming the absence or presence of ankle sprain-associated hindfoot and midfoot injuries, especially when clinical examinations are challenging, radiographs are inconclusive, and subtle instability is suspected. This article reviews and illustrates the MRI appearances of the spectrum of ankle sprains and associated hindfoot and midfoot injuries.

Keywords: Ankle; Ankle sprain; Injuries; Ligamentous; MRI; Sprain.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Ankle Injuries* / diagnostic imaging
Ankle Injuries* / therapy
Athletic Injuries* / diagnostic imaging
Athletic Injuries* / therapy
Humans
Ligaments, Articular
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Sprains and Strains* / diagnostic imaging
Sprains and Strains* / therapy