Download PDF
Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2006; 10(4): 308-327
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-972001
Copyright © 2006 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001 USA.

MRI of Trauma to the Foot and Ankle

E. C. Kavanagh1 , Adam C. Zoga2
  • 1Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • 2Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
27 March 2007 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

ABSTRACT

Traumatic injuries involving the foot and ankle are very common. With the advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and its unsurpassed ability for soft tissue characterization, its utility in the investigation of these patients with foot and ankle trauma has rapidly expanded over the last decade. MRI has the unique capability to evaluate osseous, ligamentous, tendinous, and muscular injuries about the foot and ankle, with a single imaging study. MRI also allows for characterization of injury based on known biomechanical patterns. Injuries to specific soft tissue structures such as the Lisfranc and Spring ligaments can be accurately assessed on MRI when the imager considers both direct and indirect or supportive findings, allowing appropriate therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation.

KEYWORDS

Foot - ankle - MRI

REFERENCES

  • 1 Frey C, Bell J, Teresi L, Kerr R, Feder K. A comparison of MRI and clinical examination of acute lateral ankle sprains.  Foot Ankle Int. 1996;  17 533-537
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Zoga A C, Schweitzer M E. Imaging sports injuries of the foot and ankle.  Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 2003;  11 295-310
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Labovitz J M, Schweitzer M E. Occult osseous injuries after ankle sprains: incidence, location, pattern, and age.  Foot Ankle Int. 1998;  19 661-667
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Smith R W, Bradley W G. Occult osseous injuries after ankle sprains: incidence, location, pattern, and age.  Foot Ankle Int. 1999;  20 399
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Tochigi Y, Yoshinaga K, Wada Y, Moriya H. Acute inversion injury of the ankle: magnetic resonance imaging and clinical outcomes.  Foot Ankle Int. 1998;  19 730-734
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Hepple S, Winson I G, Glew D. Osteochondral lesions of the talus: a revised classification.  Foot Ankle Int. 1999;  20 789-793
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Mengiardi B, Pfirrmann C W, Zanetti M. MR imaging of tendons and ligaments of the midfoot.  Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2005;  9 187-198
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Elias I, Jung J W, Raikin S M, Schweitzer M W, Carrino J A, Morrison W B. Osteochondral lesions of the talus: change in MRI findings over time in talar lesions without operative intervention and implications for staging systems.  Foot Ankle Int. 2006;  27 157-166
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Sopov V, Liberson A, Groshar D. Bilateral distal tibial osteochondral lesion: a case report.  Foot Ankle Int. 2001;  22 901-904
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Quill Jr G E. Fractures of the proximal fifth metatarsal.  Orthop Clin North Am. 1995;  26 353-361
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Potter H G, Deland J T, Gusmer P B, Carson E, Warren R F. Magnetic resonance imaging of the Lisfranc ligament of the foot.  Foot Ankle Int. 1998;  19 438-446
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 DeLee J C, Evans J P, Julian J. Stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal.  Am J Sports Med. 1983;  11 349-353
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Ashman C J, Klecker R J, Yu J S. Forefoot pain involving the metatarsal region: differential diagnosis with MR imaging.  Radiographics. 2001;  21 1425-1440
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Bureau N J, Cardinal E, Hobden R, Aubin B. Posterior ankle impingement syndrome: MR imaging findings in seven patients.  Radiology. 2000;  215 497-503
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Wang X T, Rosenberg Z S, Mechlin M B, Schweitzer M E. Normal variants and diseases of the peroneal tendons and superior peroneal retinaculum: MR imaging features.  Radiographics. 2005;  25 587-602
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Liu S H, Jason W J. Lateral ankle sprains and instability problems.  Clin Sports Med. 1994;  13 793-809
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Lynch S A, Renstrom P A. Treatment of acute lateral ankle ligament rupture in the athlete. Conservative versus surgical treatment.  Sports Med. 1999;  27 61-71
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Khoury N J, el-Khoury G Y, Saltzman C L, Kathol M H. Peroneus longus and brevis tendon tears: MR imaging evaluation.  Radiology. 1996;  200 833-841
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Boytim M J, Fischer D A, Neumann L. Syndesmotic ankle sprains.  Am J Sports Med. 1991;  19 294-298
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Hopkinson W J, St P P, Ryan J B, Wheeler J H. Syndesmosis sprains of the ankle.  Foot Ankle. 1990;  10 325-330
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Boon A J, Smith J, Zobitz M E, Amrami K M. Snowboarder's talus fracture. Mechanism of injury.  Am J Sports Med. 2001;  29 333-338
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Funk J R, Srinivasan S C, Crandall J R. Snowboarder's talus fractures experimentally produced by eversion and dorsiflexion.  Am J Sports Med. 2003;  31 921-928
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Khoury N J, el-Khoury G Y, Saltzman C L, Brandser E A. Rupture of the anterior tibial tendon: diagnosis by MR imaging.  AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1996;  167 351-354
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Mengiardi B, Zanetti M, Schottle P B et al.. Spring ligament complex: MR imaging-anatomic correlation and findings in asymptomatic subjects.  Radiology. 2005;  237 242-249
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Taniguchi A, Tanaka Y, Takakura Y, Kadono K, Maeda M, Yamamoto H. Anatomy of the spring ligament.  J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2003;  85-A 2174-2178
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Toye L R, Helms C A, Hoffman B D, Easley M, Nunley J A. MRI of spring ligament tears.  AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2005;  184 1475-1480
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Yao L, Gentili A, Cracchiolo A. MR imaging findings in spring ligament insufficiency.  Skeletal Radiol. 1999;  28 245-250
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Borton D C, Saxby T S. Tear of the plantar calcaneonavicular (spring) ligament causing flatfoot. A case report.  J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1997;  79 641-643
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Chen J P, Allen A M. MR diagnosis of traumatic tear of the spring ligament in a pole vaulter.  Skeletal Radiol. 1997;  26 310-312
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Mantas J P, Burks R T. Lisfranc injuries in the athlete.  Clin Sports Med. 1994;  13 719-730
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Trevino S G, Kodros S. Controversies in tarsometatarsal injuries.  Orthop Clin North Am. 1995;  26 229-238
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Allen L R, Flemming D, Sanders T G. Turf toe: ligamentous injury of the first metatarsophalangeal joint.  Mil Med. 2004;  169 xix-xxiv
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Clanton T O, Ford J J. Turf toe injury.  Clin Sports Med. 1994;  13 731-741
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Jennings D, Gissane C. Turf-toe: super league toe.  Br J Sports Med. 1997;  31 164
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Mohana-Borges A V, Theumann N H, Pfirrmann C W, Chung C B, Resnick D L, Trudell D J. Lesser metatarsophalangeal joints: standard MR imaging, MR arthrography, and MR bursography-initial results in 48 cadaveric joints.  Radiology. 2003;  227 175-182
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Rodeo S A, Warren R F, O'Brien S J, Pavlov H, Barnes R, Hanks G A. Diastasis of bipartite sesamoids of the first metatarsophalangeal joint.  Foot Ankle. 1993;  14 425-434
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Biedert R, Hintermann B. Stress fractures of the medial great toe sesamoids in athletes.  Foot Ankle Int. 2003;  24 137-141
    PubMedGoogle Scholar

Adam C ZogaM.D. 

Assistant Professor of Radiology, Director of Musculoskeletal MRI, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

132 South 10th Street, 10 Main, Radiology, Philadelphia, PA 19107

      >