MRI in Acute Ankle Sprains: Should We Be More Aggressive with Indications?

Acute ankle sprains are common sports injuries. MRI is the most accurate test for assessing the integrity and severity of ligament injuries in acute ankle sprains. However, MRI may not detect syndesmotic and hindfoot instability, and many ankle sprains are treated conservatively, questioning the value of MRI. In our practice, MRI adds value in confirming the absence or presence of ankle sprain-associated hindfoot and midfoot injuries, especially when clinical examinations are challenging, radiographs are inconclusive, and subtle instability is suspected. This article reviews and illustrates the MRI appearances of the spectrum of ankle sprains and associated hindfoot and midfoot injuries.