Anterolateral rotational instability in the ankle joint. An experimental study of anterolateral rotational instability, talar tilt, and anterior drawer sign in relation to injuries to the lateral ligaments.

In seven amputated legs the ankle region was dissected free, and anterolateral rotational instability, talar tilt, and anterior drawer sign in the talocrural joint were studied in relation to varying degrees of injury to the lateral ligaments of the ankle and in relation to various positions of the foot. This revealed a good correlation between the degree of ligamentous injury and the degree of the three different types of instability. Anterolateral rotational instability was maximal when the investigation was performed with the ankle joint in the plantar flexion, whereas the talar tilt was more pronounced with the ankle joint in the neutral position and the anterior drawer sign most distinct when the ankle joint was in dorsal flexion. Compared with the other two signs, the anterior drawer sign proved to be a relatively inconstant type of instability.