Presentation
Right foot inversion injury while playing cricket. Pain and swelling on the lateral aspect of the right ankle. Unable to bear weight. The patient feels an 'unstable ankle'.
Patient Data
There is soft tissue swelling on the lateral aspect of the ankle. There is no fracture or dislocation.
There is fluid in the expected location of the anterior talofibular ligament. Normal echopattern and continuity of ligament not seen. Compression results in the movement of fluid from superficial tissue into the joint.
Calcaneofibular ligament and anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament are intact.
There is mild effusion in the anterior recess of the ankle joint.
The asymptomatic side shows a normal echopattern with an intact anterior talofibular ligament.
Case Discussion
Anterior talofibular ligament injury is most common with foot inversion trauma.