The anatomy of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament and its relationship with the Wagstaffe fracture.

BACKGROUND

Our aim in this study was to identify the fibular footprint of the Anterior Inferior Tibiofibular Ligament (AITFL) and its relation to Wagstaffe fracture fragment size.

METHODS

We examined 25 cadaveric lower limbs which were carefully dissected to identify the lateral ankle ligaments. The AITFL anatomy was compared to 40 Wagstaffe fractures identified from our ankle fracture database.

RESULTS

The AITFL origin was from the anterior fibular tubercle with an average length of 21.61 mm (95% CI 20.22, 22.99). The average distance of the distal aspect of the AITFL footprint to the distal fibula margin was 11.60 mm (95% CI 10.49, 12.71). In the ankle fractures analyzed, the average length of the Wagstaffe fragment was 17.88 mm (95% CI 16.21, 19.54). The average distance from the distal tip of the fibula to the Wagstaffe fracture fragment was 21.40 mm (95% CI 19.78, 23.01). In total there were 22 syndesmosis injuries. There was no statistical difference in Wagstaffe fragment size between stable and unstable groups.

CONCLUSION

The AITFL fibular origin was both larger and more distal than the Wagstaffe fracture fragments seen in our institution. Therefore, this suggests that a ligamentous failure will also have to occur to result in syndesmotic instability. The size of fracture fragment also did not confer to syndesmotic instability on testing. Level of Evidence - 3.