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Morphological study of the calcaneofibular ligament in cadavers
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Abstract
In a sample of 72 cadaveric lower limbs the mean values of length, width, thickness, and angle with the sagittal plane were recorded for the CFL.
The mean ligament’s length was 31.8 mm, and the mean width and thickness were 4.4 mm and 1.5 mm respectively. The mean angle with the sagittal plane was 51.11°. In 72.2% of the lower limbs studied, the ligament presented one band, while 22.2% and 5.6% of them were two-banded and three-banded respectively. A common origin with the anterior talofibular ligament (TFL) was found in 24 of the feet (33%). There were also 4 cases in which the anterior TFL was absent. Finally, we measured the maximal elongation of the ligament during extreme inversion and simultaneous dorsal flexion and found it to be 2.88 mm on average. We noticed and statistically verified that women presented a greater elongation compared to men.
A precise knowledge of the origin, insertion, direction, and morphology of CFL is critical for ligament injuries in ankle sprains and during ankle reconstruction. Ligament elasticity plays an important role in the range of ankle motion and ligament shearing. Male and female ankle joints differ in several anthropometric characteristics and thus the genre differences in ligament elongation are of great interest. (Folia Morphol 2011; 70, 3: 180–184)
Abstract
In a sample of 72 cadaveric lower limbs the mean values of length, width, thickness, and angle with the sagittal plane were recorded for the CFL.
The mean ligament’s length was 31.8 mm, and the mean width and thickness were 4.4 mm and 1.5 mm respectively. The mean angle with the sagittal plane was 51.11°. In 72.2% of the lower limbs studied, the ligament presented one band, while 22.2% and 5.6% of them were two-banded and three-banded respectively. A common origin with the anterior talofibular ligament (TFL) was found in 24 of the feet (33%). There were also 4 cases in which the anterior TFL was absent. Finally, we measured the maximal elongation of the ligament during extreme inversion and simultaneous dorsal flexion and found it to be 2.88 mm on average. We noticed and statistically verified that women presented a greater elongation compared to men.
A precise knowledge of the origin, insertion, direction, and morphology of CFL is critical for ligament injuries in ankle sprains and during ankle reconstruction. Ligament elasticity plays an important role in the range of ankle motion and ligament shearing. Male and female ankle joints differ in several anthropometric characteristics and thus the genre differences in ligament elongation are of great interest. (Folia Morphol 2011; 70, 3: 180–184)
Keywords
calcaneofibular ligament; cadaveric; ligament elongation
About this articleTitle
Morphological study of the calcaneofibular ligament in cadavers
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original article
Pages
180-184
Published online
2011-08-24
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650
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2228
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2011;70(3):180-184.
Keywords
calcaneofibular ligament
cadaveric
ligament elongation
Authors
P. Kitsoulis
A. Marini
A. Pseftinakou
K. Iliou
V. Galani
G. Paraskevas
