DIAGNOSIS OF LATERAL ANKLE LIGAMENT INJURIES - COMPARISON BETWEEN TALAR TILT, MRI AND OPERATIVE FINDINGS IN 112 ATHLETES

We evaluated the reliability of the radiographic talar tilt test by MR I examinations in 112 athletes with injuries to the lateral ligaments of the ankle. 25 athletes with a talar tilt > 15 degrees were treated operatively, Intraoperative findings and the talar tilt test were comp ared with MR imaging results, Our results suggest that MRI is a reliab le method for diagnosing injuries of the lateral ankle ligaments, The talar tilt test cannot evaluate the specific pathology of lateral ankl e ligaments, but it was reliable in indicating complete double-ligamen t ruptures (anterior talo-fibular and calcaneo-fibular ligaments), whe n talar tilt was 15 degrees or more than on the uninjured side.