Study of different ankle pathologies on MRI

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of MRI in characterization of different ankle pathologies based on their aetiology and evaluate the prevalence of different pathologies in different age group and evaluate involvement of different structure in various ankle pathologies.Patients and methods: This study include 47 patients (23 male and 24 female) with different complains of ankle including pain around the ankle, decreased movement of ankle joint, difficulty in walking, swelling around the ankle, tenderness around the ankle and trauma to the ankle underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the ankle joint.Results: In our study included 47 patients with different ankle complain were subjected to MRI of the affected ankle after initial examination and basic investigation including plain radiography. Maximum number of pathologies were detected in the age group of 41 to 60 years in 46.80% of the patients. Most common structure involved were joints, it was involved in 28 patients (59.57%). Traumatic etiology was more common in our study and seen in 18 patients (38.29%) followed by degrative etiology in 11 patients (23.40%). Lateral ligament complex was most frequently injured ligament representing 83.33%. Although it is the strongest tendon in the human body, Achilles tendon was the most commonly injured ankle tendon.Conclusion: Because of exquisite soft-tissue contrast resolution, noninvasive nature, and multiplanar capabilities of MR imaging make it especially valuable for the detection and assessment of a variety of soft-tissue as well as osseous and bone marrow disorders.