MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF INJURIES TO THE ANKLE JOINT - CAN IT PREDICT CLINICAL OUTCOME

Objective. To predict clinical outcome after ankle sprains on the basi s of magnetic resonance (MR) findings. Design and patients. Twenty-nin e consecutive patients (mean age 32.9 years, range 13-60 years) were e xamined clinically and with MR imaging both after trauma and following standardized conservative therapy. Various MR abnormalities were rela ted to a clinical outcome score. Results. There was a tendency for a b etter clinical outcome in partial, rather than complete, tears of the anterior talofibular ligament and when there was no fluid within the p eroneal tendon sheath at the initial MR examination (P=0.092 for eithe r abnormality), A number of other MR features did not significantly in fluence clinical outcome, including the presence of a calcaneofibular ligament lesion and a bone bruise of the talar dome. Conclusion. Clini cal outcome after ankle sprain cannot consistently be predicted by MR imaging, although MR imaging may be more accurate when the anterior ta lofibular ligament is only partially torn and there are no signs of in jury to the peroneal tendon sheath.