RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: The Proximal Tibiofibular Joint (PTFJ) is a synovial joint with anatomical variations located between the anteromedial surface of the fibula and the posterolateral facet of the tibia. These anatomical variations are believed to contribute to different biomechanical behaviors in both the knee and ankle joint and play a role in both physiological and pathological movements. Therefore, the morphology of the proximal tibiofibular joint may play a decisive role in the characteristics of ankle fractures and syndesmotic ligament injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective comparative our CT database was searched between January 2015 and December 2022. Following inclusion criteria were used: Availability of knee CT scans for the fractured ankle, external rotation-type injuries (pronation external rotation and supination external rotation fractures). After applying the exclusion criteria (Plafond fractures, supination adduction and pronation abduction type fractures, pathological fractures, patients with previous fractures or surgeries around the knee, patients with previous fractures or surgeries around the knee, proximal tibiofibular arthrosis), 44 CT scans (mean age = 42.8 ± 14.1) confirmed eligible for further analysis. On each scan following measurements were performed: Coronal and sagittal PTFJ inclination angle, Joint obliquity, fibula head-tibia joint distance and tibia plateau-fibular axis angle. RESULTS: The study consisted of 24 (54.5 %) male and 20 (45.5 %) female patients. According to the proximal fibular inclination, 29 cases (65.9 %) were of the oblique type, and 15 cases (34.1 %) were of the horizontal type. The distribution of PTFJ variations was as follows: 17 (38.6 %) concave, 4 (9.1 %) convex, 7 (15.9 %) atypical, and 16 (36.4 %) flat type. Regarding the PTFJ joint contour, the distribution was 13 (29.5 %) type a, 11 (25 %) type b, and 20 (45.5 %) type c. There was no relationship between measurements of PITFJ morphology and the type of ankle fracture and/or syndesmosis injury (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: PTFJ morphological features are not associated with rotational ankle fractures and syndesmotic ligament injuries.
RESUMEN
The bone anatomy of tibiofibular syndesmosis has been a topic of interest. Fibular incisura morphology has been analyzed on cadaver specimens, plain radiographs, or CT images. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of fibula incisura features and fibula morphology in ankle injuries, especially involving posterior malleolus and posteroinferior tibiofibular ligament injuries. From 2017 through 2022, A total of 59 patients with isolated lateral malleolar fracture, Mason-Malloy type 1 posterior malleolar fracture, syndesmosis injury in those without posterior malleolar fracture, supination external rotation type 3 injuries according to Lauge-Hansen classification, and preoperative bilateral ankle computed tomography images were included in the study. Fibula morphologies and syndesmosis measurements were made from preoperative computed tomography images using axial CT images from 1 cm proximal to the tibial plafond. The diagnosis of posterior malleolar fractures was made using the CT classification system of Mason and Malloy, and the diagnosis of syndesmosis injury was made with a cotton test during surgery. Age, gender, fractured side, incisura type, incisor depth, width, anterior and posterior facet lengths, incisor version (antevert-retrovert), the angle between the anterior and posterior facets, and fibula type were recorded. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in posterior facet length and incisura width. Morphological features of fibular incisura may be the determinant of PITFL injury or PMA injury in fibular fractures caused by an external rotation mechanism.