[Clinical results of sonographic functional studies of lesions of the capsule and ligaments of the knee and ankle joint].

The authors conducted a clinical study to examine whether sonographic examinations of function would be a reliable alternative to x-ray films of the forced extreme joint position in lesions of capsule and ligament of the knee and ankle joints. Sonographic standard planes of section are defined and the results of the described examination methods in 200 patients are demonstrated. Ruptures of the external ligaments of the ankle joint as well as cruciate and collateral ligament instabilities at the knee joint are simple and safe to assess and document via sonography.