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PubMed1997

Muscle, reflex and central components in the control of the ankle joint in healthy and spastic man.

In understanding the control of the ankle joint during different motor tasks, we have to investigate at least three components, namely the influence of i) the passive and intrinsic properties of the intact and active muscle system around the joint (termed the non-reflex component), ii) the mechanical importance of the stretch reflex in the stretched and unloaded muscles, and iii) the supraspinal control of the stretch reflex. This thesis is dealing with the importance of the three components in healthy and spastic persons during sitting, standing, and walking. The results are based on stretch reflex and H-reflex measurements from the ankle extensor muscles. During stretch reflex experiments the foot was mounted to a platform (portable during walking) from which the ankle joint torque and the position were measured. To elicit a stretch reflex, the ankle joint was rotated by a strong motor connected to the platform. The mechanical importance of the stretch reflex was investigated by measuring the changes in joint torque. Electrically, the stretch reflex was recorded as the compound muscle action potential through bipolar surface EMG electrodes placed over the soleus muscle. During H-reflex experiments, the tibial nerve was stimulated at the popliteal fossa and the H-reflex recorded over the soleus muscle as during stretch reflex experiments. To investigate how the contractile properties of a muscle in humans depend on the history of activation, we investigated the intrinsic stiffness of the ankle extensors in healthy subjects. At matched background contraction in sitting subjects, a prolonged contraction increased the intrinsic muscle stiffness by 49%. Muscle yielding has been considered especially important for understanding the reflex compensation. We found a general lack of muscle yield and a mechanically important non-reflex stiffness of the ankle extensors showing that non-reflex stiffness is a prominent factor in normal movements of the ankle joint. In both healthy and spastic persons, we found a mechanically strong stretch reflex in the isometric, contracted muscles during sitting. This posed the question; how is the reflex regulated during more functional motor tasks. This was dealt with by studying the H-reflex during isometric ramp contractions and during walking in healthy and spastic persons. In the healthy subjects the H-reflex was modulated in consistency with a task dependent control. In the spastic patients the H-reflex lacked a task dependent modulation. In consistency with earlier findings it was suggested that the decreased modulation could have been caused by decreased control of the pre-synaptic inhibition of the Ia terminals or a change in recruitment gain. To test if the stretch reflex behaved as the H-reflex, the short latency stretch reflex was investigated during walking. Here we found that the stretch reflex was strongly modulated during a step in healthy subjects as seen for the H-reflex, but when comparing the stretch reflex at matched excitation levels (same background EMGs) during standing and walking, no task-specific reflex modulation was found except the one relating to the excitation level. Therefore, the results emphasise that at least during walking and standing it is not always possible to draw conclusions about the stretch reflex based on observations of the H-reflex. When investigating the modulation of the short latency stretch reflex during walking in spastic patients, we found that the stretch reflex modulation was impaired in spastic patients at least to the extent demonstrated earlier for the H-reflex. The passive stiffness of the ankle joint was at the same time increased in the patients. At matched ankle extensor contraction levels, stretch responses were compared before and after reversible block of the common peroneal nerve and during an attempted, voluntary, fictive dorsiflexion after common peroneal nerve block. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1987

A method of determining the angular malalignments of the knee and ankle joints resulting from a tibial malunion.

Malalignments of the knee and ankle joints resulting from tibial angular malunion can be determined using mathematical analysis. The angular deformity of the tibia is equal to the sum of the angular malalignments formed by the knee and ankle joints in relation to the horizontal plane. These malalignments are not equal. A larger percentage of the deformity is reflected inferiorly as the deformity approaches the ankle joint. A table was formulated to provide the corresponding degrees of joint malalignment (knee and ankle) for tibial angular deformities at different positions along the tibia. The analysis provides a useful tool to quantify the knee and ankle joint malalignments secondary to tibial angular malunion. Although designation of prognosis at different degrees of angular deformity is beyond the scope of this study, it does provide improved correlation between tibial angular deformities and the clinical outcome, e.g., degenerative arthroses of the adjacent joints, in future studies on tibial fractures.

Ankle Joint↗
PubMed1999

[Injury of the upper ankle joint in tibial fracture. A frequent, but undervalued combination].

There are 2 types of a combined tibia fracture and ankle injury: in Type I the tibia fracture extends directly into the ankle joint, in Type II the tibia fracture goes along with a fracture of the fibula and disruption of the fibular-tibial syndesmosis. This type of fracture must be distinguished from a pilon tibiale fracture. The typical mechanism for this combined tibia and ankle injury is the indirect torsional trauma with pronation-eversion. From 1995 to 1997 188 patients with fractures of the tibia were treated by internal fixation in our Trauma Department. 27 of these patients (13.6%) had a combined tibia and ankle injury. Most of the tibia fractures were located in the distal third, a spiral fracture (16 patients) or a comminuted fracture (6 patients), and another group extending directly into the ankle (5 patients). The ankle lesion was a distal fibular fracture (Weber Type B + C) in 14 patients, a proximal fibular fracture (Type maisoneuve) in 6 patients, a postero-lateral fragment in 11 cases and a fracture of the medial melleolus in 10 cases. A disrupture of the anterior tibio-fibular syndesmosis was seen in 18 patients, 3 times as an isolated lesion of the ankle joint without fracture of the fibula. The osteosynthesis of the tibia fracture was performed with an unreamed tibia nail in 20 patients, with elastic-biologic plate fixation in 6 and with external fixation in 1 patient. The fibula fractures were stabilized by small fragment titaneum plates, the dorsolateral fragment and the medial malleolus were stabilized by lag-screws, the tibio-fibular ligament was sutured and, in a few cases only, held in place by a positioning screw. The outcome was controlled after 20.7 month according to the Phillip's Score (1996). We found not more than one pour results. It must be considered, that most of the combined injuries of the tibia and the ankle joint concerning 13.6% of all tibia shaft fractures are usually not recognized and may result in an arthrosis of the ankle joint. The attention should be focused to the ankle joint in any spiral fractures of the distal tibia after indirect trauma, especially with a proximal fibular fracture or an intact fibula. Additional X-ray examination of the ankle joint is recommended during internal fixation of the tibia. Posttraumatic arthrosis of the ankle joint can be prevented by diagnosis and adequate anatomical reconstruction of the additional ankle joint injury.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of an ankle orthosis and ankle ligament anesthesia on ankle joint proprioception.

The purposes of this study were to determine the effect of a rigid ankle orthosis (Aircast Air-Stirrup) and lateral ankle ligament anesthesia on ankle joint proprioception. Twelve noninjured subjects attempted to match nine reference ankle joint positions with their eyes closed before and after application of the ankle brace and before and after one or two of the lateral ankle ligaments (anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular) were anesthetized. Three-dimensional ankle joint orientations were recorded with a Motion Analysis system. No significant differences in the constant, variable, or absolute error were seen between subjects in the non-anesthetized and anesthetized conditions (P > 0.05), regardless of whether one or two ligaments were anesthetized. Thus, it appears that ligament mechanoreceptors contributed little to ankle joint proprioception, and that the afferent feedback from skin, muscle, and other joint receptors was adequate for the positioning task of the present study. Both the variable and absolute error in matching the reference positions were significantly less with the orthosis than without (P < 0.05). Application of an orthosis may increase the afferent feedback from cutaneous receptors in the foot and shank, which may in turn lead to an improved ankle joint position sense.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Acute rupture of the lateral ligaments of the ankle joint, diagnosis and surgical treatment.

A useful method for the diagnosis of acute rupture of the lateral ligament of the ankle joint is presented. Twenty-three patients with ruptures of the lateral ligament of the ankle joint were treated surgically with suture of the lateral ligaments of the ankle. Accurate preoperative diagnosis with stress films and arthrography under local anesthesia of the ankle joint is imperative. No instances of infection or other complications were observed. All patients achieved a normal range of ankle function within three to six months. Radiograhs of the injured ankle in the forced inversion position following operation showed full stability of the ankle joint. In our opinion, all ankle injuries should be examined roentgenographically with forced inversion of the foot. Tilting of the talus of at least 10 degrees must be followed by arthrography of the ankle joint under local anesthesia. If there is leakage of contrast material along the peroneal tendon sheaths and around the joint cavity, the lateral ligament of the ankle must be sutured immediately in order to regain stability of the ankle joint.

Ankle Injuries↗
PubMed1983

Radiographic instability of the ankle joint after Evans' repair.

Forty-two unstable ankle joints were treated surgically by Evans' operation. The clinical postoperative results were correlated with the objective radiological stress examinations. The mean age of the patients was 29 years (15-60 years). The clinical and radiological follow-up examinations were performed 6 months after the operation. In the stress X-ray examinations a modified stress frame was used. Clinical instability was noted in four patients. In the radiological examination one patient had a pathological finding in the talar tilt test and 18 patients in the anterior drawer sign test. The radiological instability correlated poorly with the subjective end results. Six patients were estimated to have a poor result of the operation. Five of these patients had a positive anterior drawer sign in the stress X-ray examination and one had degenerative changes in the ankle. Although Evans' repair is a simple and reliable method of reconstructing ruptures of the lateral ligaments of the ankle joint, it is associated with a relatively high frequency of positive anterior subluxation on radiological stress examination. This finding can be explained by the anatomical and geometrical factors on the lateral side of the ankle joint.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Cartilage fibrillation at the ankle joint in Liverpool necropsies.

The articular surfaces have been examined in 45 left ankle joints from a random series of adult necropsies in the city of Liverpool. Foci of overt fibrillation, with frank splitting of the articular cartilage surface, were extremely common in the ankle joint and were often already apparent in young adults. With increasing age overt fibrillation tended on the whole to become extensive, but this tendency was partly obscured by considerable variation between individuals. It initially and especially affected the periphery of the cartilage sheets and the boundaries between the central and malleolar articulation territories. Possible explanations for this peripheral susceptibility are discussed. One or more sites on the non-peripheral parts of the lateral and medial malleolar surfaces were next in order of susceptibility. The central territory of the articulation was the least susceptible to overt fibrillation. Minimal fibrillation, with a very superficial splitting of the cartilage surface, could occur at any site on the ankle joint surfaces. With increasing age, extensive involvement of the central territory by this minimal change was much more common than extensive overt fibrillation here. The surface markings of minimal fibrillation sometimes showed a macroscopially apparent orientation en face. In one sort these were parallel to flexion-extension movement and consistent with track markings from abrasive-adhesive wear. In a second sort they were parallel to the dominant en face orientation of the superficial cartilage collagen. The topography and natural history of cartilage fibrillation at the ankle joint is discussed with reference to Liverpool data from other joints. Some of the older ankles showed peripheral segments of fibrous tissue-covered cartilage loss. This feature was attributed to "ageing" rather than osteoarthrosis. Only 1 of 20 left ankles from subjects more than 70 years old showed any region of full-thickness uncalcified cartilage loss with abrasive wear of 'osteoarthritic' type. Thus it would seem that in the majority of the Lverpool population the articular cartilage of the normal ankle joint has a high resistance to the type of vertical wear found in clinically demonstrable osteoarthrosis. The practical implications of this conclusion are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

The role of the passive structures in the mobility and stability of the human ankle joint: a literature review.

The mobility and stability of the ankle joint have been extensively investigated, but many critical important issues still need to be elucidated. However, there seems to be a general agreement on several important observations. A more isometric pattern of rotation for the calcaneofibular and the tibiocalcaneal ligaments with respect to all the others has been reported. Many recent studies have found changing positions of the instantaneous axis of rotation, suggesting that the hinge joint concept is an oversimplification for the ankle joint. A few recent works have also claimed anterior shift of the contact area at the tibial mortise during dorsiflexion, which would imply combined rolling and sliding motion at this joint. Many findings from the literature support the view of a close interaction between the geometry of the ligaments and the shapes of the articular surfaces in guiding and stabilizing motion at the ankle joint.

Ankle Joint↗
PubMed2000

Foot progression angle and ankle joint complex in preschool children.

OBJECTIVE: The influence of foot progression angle on the ankle joint and the effects on gait patterns and mechanisms in skeletally normal preschool children was investigated. DESIGN: Kinematics and kinetics of the ankle joint were analyzed for preschool children who were skeletally normal but walked with different foot progression angle. BACKGROUND: The most frequent reasons for preschool children to be brought to a paediatric orthopaedic clinic are toe-in and toe-out. Without understanding the biological and biomechanical implications, treatment for these problems can be very confusing. METHODS: Gait analysis was performed in 86 skeletally normal preschool children. Children were grouped according to their foot progression angles. Analysis of the kinematics and kinetics of the ankle joint was intended to elucidate the gait mechanism. RESULTS: Children with different foot progression angles had distinctive patterns of spatio-temporal parameters, ground reaction force, joint angle, moment, power, and mechanical work of the ankle joints. The differences were organized and explained as different walking patterns and tactics. CONCLUSIONS: Skeletally normal preschool children with excessive toe-in or toe-out foot progression angles are not necessarily in some diseased status. They were instead related to different walking patterns. Aggressive treatment for these problems is not recommended.RelevanceThese results suggest that toe-in and toe-out are related to walking speed which has distinct influences on the kinematics and kinetics of the ankle joint. Though the observed problems were seemingly only in the transverse plane, they are in fact three-dimensional and have a mutually close relationship. The findings could be linked to the promptness of muscle response and the habits of walking in preschool children. Better understanding of possible mechanisms will help parents and paediatricians decide on the most appropriate treatment for these children.

Ankle Joint↗
PubMed1985

Carbon fiber replacement of the ligaments of the shoulder girdle and the treatment of lateral instability of the ankle joint.

A normal active human being will not accept chronic instability or persistent luxation of any joint. Many attempts have been made to stabilize a damaged joint with autogeneic and allogeneic materials and by various surgical techniques. In animal and clinical trials, carbon fibers are reported to be a promising material for ligament replacement in chronic joint instability. The authors are investigating carbon fibers not only for repair of chronic instability of knee joints but also for chronic luxations and subluxations of the sternoclavicular, acromioclavicular, and ankle joints. For long-term stability of the new ligament, carbon fibers must be implanted in cancellous bone channels. Ingrowth of connective tissue and newly formed bone produces a secure ligament anchorage. A temporary tension band wire loop immobilizes the sternoclavicular or acromioclavicular joint. The ankle ligament replacements are immobilized with a weight-bearing plaster boot for six weeks postoperation. The use of carbon fibers as a ligament replacement in the sternoclavicular, acromioclavicular, and ankle joints produces favorable functions and stability. Reconstruction of the normal ligament insertions of a joint is essential, particularly with respect to supination and free range of movement. Of 56 cases with lateral chronic instability of the ankle, 51 with a mean average postoperative follow-up period of two years, 49 had subjectively good results. Stable joints were demonstrable in 48 cases; supination was limited in four cases.

Acromioclavicular Joint↗
PubMed1987

[Results following surgical treatment of ligament ruptures of the ankle joint in children].

A follow-up study was done in 49 children one to five years after surgical repair of traumatic rupture of the fibular ligaments of the ankle joint. Surgery has been performed when the unstable ankle joint showed radiologically a difference in the supinatory subluxation of more than 7 degrees in comparison to the opposite side. 30 children were free of complaints and showed identical stability of both ankle joints. Further eleven patients had minor complaints but the ankle joints were stable, clinically and radiologically. Four patients without complaints had a slightly differing weakness of the ankle joint. Further four patients had substantial complaints. Three of them also showed radiologically instability of the joint. Ruptures of the fibular ligament in childhood are not infrequent. Early operative treatment obviously gives better results when compared with those of conservative plaster cast therapy. The radiologically confirmed difference in supinatory subluxation of the traumatised ankle joint in comparison to the other side provides an excellent parameter for the indication to surgery.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Functional anatomy and biomechanics of the ankle joint].

Functional anatomy is fundamental for understanding motion in the ankle joint. Biomechanical studies try to evaluate the forces and torque affecting biological tissue under various conditions and therefore the cause and effects of disorders of joint structures. Conclusions based on this research permit preventive arrangements to reduce force and risk of injury to the joints. Biomechanical models describe the function of joint movements. A knowledge of biomechanical models may affect therapy management of patients with joint disorders. For the radiologist the results of this basic research are of major importance. Knowledge of pathological joint movements allows more accurate diagnosis of complex disorders or injuries of the ankle joint and structural alterations in bony or soft tissue structures, as demonstrated by MRI. In this article, we summarize the results of functional anatomy and biomechanics of the ankle joint reported in the literature.

Ankle Injuries↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Magnetic resonance imaging of the ankle joint and foot: possible diagnostic errors].

The paper deals with the visualizing study of the ankle joint and foot by MRI and with the problems in the interpretation of magnetic resonance images in health. For this, 50 healthy volunteers without diseases and lesions of the ankle joint and foot were examined. The study was performed by using flexible superficial coils and T1-, T2-, and proton-weighed pulse-sequences in the orthogonal projections. The articular surfaces and cavity of the ankle joint were evaluated. The specific features of visualization of the muscles and tendons of this area and the pattern of fluid under their membranes were explored. The typical location of the "magic corner" phenomenon was revealed. The individual specific features of identification of the ligaments of the ankle joint and foot and plantar aponeurosis were defined. The features of visualization of bones simulating abnormalities were studied. A category of normalcy in the MRI of the ankle joint and foot was formulated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Arthrography of the ankle joint].

Arthrography of the ankle joint was first carried out by Johnson and Palmer at the Military Hospital in Stockholm in 1940. Arthrography can be used for judging the integrity of the articular cartilage, of osteochondritis dissecans, arthritis or adhesive capsulitis. The literature shows, however, that more than 95% of the patients on whom this examination has been performed had suffered from acute trauma.

Ankle↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Continuous passive motion following partial ankle joint arthroplasty.

Retrospective preliminary report of 19 cases undergoing partial ankle joint arthroplasties with open surgical procedures were rehabilitated with continuous passive motion (CPM). Preoperative and post-operative ankle range of motion and subjective findings (pain, physical signs, activity, quality of motion) were evaluated. Results indicated significant increases to ankle joint range of motion with the use of continuous passive motion, decreased pain, increased activity, decreased edema, and improved quality of motion in the majority of patients undergoing ankle joint arthroplasty with continuous passive motion.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Primary osteoarthritis in the ankle joint is associated with finger metacarpophalangeal osteoarthritis and the H63D mutation in the HFE gene: evidence for a hemochromatosis-like polyarticular osteoarthritis phenotype.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Osteoarthritis (OA) can occur in the ankle joint. It also occurs in an appreciable proportion of subjects with hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). Might these conditions have common genetic characteristics? The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that HFE gene mutations are associated with primary osteoarthritis in the ankle joint. METHODS: Consecutive referred patients who had primary or secondary (posttraumatic) OA of the ankle joint were assessed by a single rheumatologist and had a full physical and joint examination. Plain x-rays of the ankle joint, other clinically involved osteoarthritic joints, iron studies, HFE genotyping, and Hb electrophoresis were performed. The significance of differences was evaluated by 2-tailed Fisher exact test. RESULTS: Fourteen patients met the inclusion criteria for primary ankle OA and 6 met the criteria for secondary ankle OA. One of the 14 had had a previous subtalar joint fusion and was excluded. Among the remaining 13, 7 had OA in the index and/or middle finger metacarpophalangeal joints (MCP2,3 OA) with radiologic features similar to those found in hemochromatotic arthropathy (HA). Furthermore, 11 of the 13 had at least one HFE mutation, one subject in this group was homozygous for H63D, one was compound heterozygous for C282Y and S65C, and one was compound heterozygous for H63D and S65C. Eight were heterozygous for H63D. The 13 subjects were compared with the 6 secondary ankle OA subjects and with a previously studied population cohort (n = 3011) from the town of Busselton in whom HFE genotyping had been performed. A statistically significant increase in the frequency of HFE gene mutations was observed in the group with primary OA of the ankle joint compared with that with secondary ankle joint OA (P = 0.0095) and compared with the Busselton cohort (P = 0.0008). Furthermore, a statistically significant association between finger MCP joint OA and primary ankle joint OA was observed (P = 0.0436). Iron studies were normal in the 13 primary and 6 secondary ankle OA subjects. None of the subjects with ankle OA had clinical signs of hemochromatosis or abnormal liver function tests. CONCLUSIONS: A strong and statistically significant association was observed between HFE gene mutations and primary OA in the ankle joint. The frequent presence of MCP2,3 OA in these patients suggests the existence of a type 2 polyarticular OA phenotype that closely resembles the arthropathy of HH and which appears to be clinically differentiable from type 1 OA or nodal generalized OA (NGOA). HFE gene mutations may be a marker for the type 2 polyarticular OA phenotype and a clue to OA pathogenesis.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

[Ball and socket ankle joint and tarsal synostosis (author's transl)].

Ball and socket ankle joints in 4 patients with "tarsal coalition" have first been described by Lamb and later by others. This report deals with a further case. The boy with a congenitally short left leg and absence of the lateral two toes was seen at the age of 4 months. He was again seen at 11 years of age after a sprain of the right ankle. Roentgen-examination showed calcaneotarsal synostosis and a ball and socket ankle joint with a fatigue fracture of the lateral metatarsal. The shape of the ankle joint appears to be part of a non-inheritable congenital defect with early embryonal disturbance of cleft formation in the tarsus.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗