The impact of knee surface alignment on ankle sprain occurrence.

BACKGROUND

Knee position provides useful information for the anatomical alignment of the lower extremity. Analyzing the geometric components of this alignment should yield useful information about how these factors affect the occurrence of an ankle sprain. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation among these anthropometric characteristics and the possible future occurrence of ankle sprain injuries.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

A total of 60 elite athletes (25.2 ± 3.2 years) participated in the current study. The data used for measuring knee surface alignment were the following: anatomical alignment angle (AA), condylar hip angle (CH), tibial plateau angle (PA), and joint surface (condylar plateau) angle (CP). Standardized radiography was used in all measurements. All knee alignment measurements were made on digital radiographs. The study lasted for 18 months. A logistic regression (probit) was used for the statistical analysis of the outcomes. A significance level of P = .05 was considered.

RESULTS

The knee angle factors (AA, CH, PA, and CP) proved to be statistically nonsignificant (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The geometric knee surface alignment factors do not seem to be a decisive factor that would increase the probability of spraining an ankle.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: PROGNOSTIC LEVEL IV: Case Series.