[Magnetic resonance imaging in tendon and ligament injuries of the ankle. Our personal experience].

While Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has become a routine diagnostic method in knee studies, little has been published about ankle injuries. This is probably due to the anatomic complexity of the bone and ligament structures of this joint. Our study was aimed at assessing the yield of MRI of the ankle with a cost-effective, compact, low-field (0.2 T) M(R) system (Artoscan, Esaote). January, 1994, to August, 1995, 148 ankle examinations were carried out in a series of patients whose age ranged 7 to 75 years. In 56.7% of cases the exam was performed because of acute joint strain and in 43.3% for pain and chronic ankle instability. In 16.2% of cases the exam was negative; in 41.2% osteochondral injuries were found (which are not considered in this paper) and in 62.1% of cases ligament and tendon injuries were demonstrated. As for the latter, 46 patients had anterior talofibular rupture, 3 associated anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligament injuries, 9 tenosynovitis of extensor or flexor tendons, 2 tendon rupture and 17 Achilles tendon conditions (10 chronic tendinitis, 2 bone metaplasia and 5 tendon rupture cases). Three tarsal tunnel syndromes and 3 accessory soleus muscles were also observed. Surgical correlation was available only in 17 patients; after radiography and MRI, the vast majority of patients was treated nonoperatively. Nevertheless, a good correlation was demonstrated between M(R) and intraoperative findings or clinical and US findings. The authors believe that low-field MRI can be a very useful diagnostic tool in the study of ankle tendon injuries and to assess the severity of ligament injuries, for better treatment planning.