Abstract

The ligamentous apparatus of the ankle is one of the most frequently injured structures of the human body. The authors emphasize the importance of careful clinical examination and present their own methodology. They use ultrasound examination in an enforced position (5 MHz linear transducer and apparatus by Scheuba or by their own apparatus) as primary screening examination estimating stability of three articulations at the same time: talo-crural, talo-calcaneal and calcaneo-cuboid. If the finding is positive, they concentrate furthermore on precise ascertaining of the injured joint. A group of 86 sportsmen was analyzed. In 14 cases, the instability of the ankle was proved, in 12 cases that of the talocrural and in 2 cases that of the talocalcaneal joint. Sonographic diagnostics of the ankle joint in an enforced position was found to be a time-saveing, non invasive method. The method is useful in diagnosis of the acute and chronic instability of the ankle. Verf.-Referat