eMedicine Specialties > Sports Medicine > Foot and Ankle

Talofibular Ligament Injury: Differential Diagnoses & Workup

Author: Marc A Molis, MD, Medical Director of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine of Iowa
Coauthor(s): David F Martin, MD, Program Director, Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Aug 19, 2008

Differential Diagnoses

Achilles Tendon Rupture
Calcaneofibular Ligament Injury
Achilles Tendonitis
Peroneal Tendon Syndromes
Ankle Fracture
Ankle Impingement Syndrome
Ankle Sprain

Other Problems to Be Considered

Ankle dislocation (see also eMedicine's Joint Reduction, Ankle Dislocation [in the Clinical Procedures section])
Calcaneus bone injuries
Midfoot injuries

Workup

Laboratory Studies

  • Laboratory studies are not indicated in the workup of ligamentous injuries of the ankle.

Related Medscape topic:
Resource Center Pathology & Lab Medicine

Imaging Studies

  • Indications for imaging studies in cases of suspected talofibular ligament injuries include the following:
    • Bony tenderness or deformity
    • Suspicion of a fracture or syndesmotic injury
    • Severe pain or swelling that makes the physical examination unreliable
    • Inability to walk
  • Initial radiologic studies of the ankle should include the following:
    • An anteroposterior (AP) view with the ankle in slight adduction
    • A true lateral view
    • A mortise view (45° oblique view with the ankle in dorsiflexion)
    • Consider stress views of the ankle.
    • If a syndesmotic injury is suspected, then AP and lateral views of the tibia and fibula should also be obtained to rule out associated fibular fractures.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be useful in evaluating the soft-tissue anatomy of the ankle, such as ligaments and tendons. This imaging modality is not typically an initial test performed, but MRI may be useful in the patient who is not healing, in whom a stress fracture is suspected, or in chronic ankle pain and instability.

Related Medscape topics:
Resource Center Joint Disorders
Resource Center Pain Management: Advanced Approaches to Chronic Pain Management
Resource Center Pain Management: Pharmacologic Approaches
Specialty Site Radiology

More on Talofibular Ligament Injury

Overview: Talofibular Ligament Injury
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Talofibular Ligament Injury
Treatment & Medication: Talofibular Ligament Injury
Follow-up: Talofibular Ligament Injury
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

talofibular ligament injury, ankle sprain, inversion ankle injury, lateral ligament ankle sprain, anterior talofibular ligament injury, ATFL sprain, posterior talofibular ligament injury, PTFL sprain, recurrent ankle sprain

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Marc A Molis, MD, Medical Director of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine of Iowa
Marc A Molis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Association, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, and Iowa Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

David F Martin, MD, Program Director, Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine
David F Martin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Sports Medicine, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Orthopaedic Association, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Southern Medical Association, and Southern Orthopaedic Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Craig C Young, MD, Professor, Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Community and Family Medicine, Medical Director of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Fellowship Director, Medical College of Wisconsin
Craig C Young, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, Phi Beta Kappa, and Wilderness Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Russell D White, MD, Professor of Medicine, Department of Community and Family Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Truman Medical Center Lakewood
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Jon B Whitehurst, MD, Clinical Instructor of Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine; Partner and Executive Board Member, Rockford Orthopedic Associates; Orthopedic Chairman, Rockford Memorial Hospital
Jon B Whitehurst, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and Arthroscopy Association of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Sherwin SW Ho, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Section of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Chicago
Sherwin SW Ho, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and Arthroscopy Association of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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