Bone Marrow Edema Following Ankle Ligament Injuries: an MRI Imaging Evaluation

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Manel Ballester-Alomar
Gustavo Lucar-López
Federico Bugallo
Griselda March-Sorribes
Praneeth Revuri
Kerbi Alejandro Guevara Noriega

Abstract

Introduction: Acute ankle sprains are a common type of musculoskeletal injury. With the increased popularity of MRI post-ankle sprain, more cases of bone marrow edema or bone bruise are detected. This is a subchondral osseous fracture of the cancellous microarchitecture with accompanied local hemorrhage and edema. This study aims to analyze if the presence of ankle ligament injury presents any significant statistical relation with the specific location.
Materials and Methods: We reviewed 50 MRI performed during 2015-2018 for patients who reported ankle pain and signs of instability. Two different radiologists evaluated the series. Bone marrow edema location and specific ligament lesions were contrasted to find possible associations. Chi-Square was used to analyzethe differences.
Results: The anterior talofibular ligament was the most commonly injured ligament (84%). CFL injury occurred in 27 cases (54%). There were no differences between the presence of bone marrow edema and the ligament injured after an ankle sprain (p>0,05). Overall, the most common location of bone marrow edema was the head and neck of the talus (64%). There was no statistical relationship between bone marrow edema location and the injured ligament (p>0,05).
Conclusion: Bone marrow edema is a frequent finding after a ligament injury following ankle sprains. However, this finding is not directly related to a specific location of the injured ligament. The location of bone marrow edema is not related to specific ligament injuries. MRI findings of bone marrow edema must not change the management of patients with acute ankle sprains.
Level of Evidence: II

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How to Cite
Ballester-Alomar, M., Lucar-López, G., Bugallo, F., March-Sorribes, G., Revuri, P., & Guevara Noriega, K. A. (2021). Bone Marrow Edema Following Ankle Ligament Injuries: an MRI Imaging Evaluation. Revista De La Asociación Argentina De Ortopedia Y Traumatología, 86(1), 17-22. https://doi.org/10.15417/issn.1852-7434.2021.86.1.1124
Section
Clinical Research
Author Biographies

Manel Ballester-Alomar, Foot and Ankle Unit, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital de Mataró (Barcelona, Spain)

Manel Ballestewr-Alomar, MD. Foot and Ankle Unit, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital de Mataró (Barcelona, Spain)

Gustavo Lucar-López, Foot and Ankle Unit, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital de Mataró (Barcelona, Spain)

Gustavo Lucar-López, MD. Foot and Ankle Unit, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital de Mataró (Barcelona, Spain)

Federico Bugallo, Lower Limb Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Division, Hospital General de Agudos “Dr. Juan A. Fernández” (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Federico Bugallo, MD. Lower Limb Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Division, Hospital General de Agudos “Dr. Juan A. Fernández” (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Griselda March-Sorribes, Podology Unit, Clínica Creu Blanca (Barcelona, Spain)

Podology Unit, Clínica Creu Blanca (Barcelona, Spain)

Praneeth Revuri, Ankle Surgery, Mlathi Manipal Hospitals (Jayanagar, Bangalore, India)

Praneeth Revuri, MD. Ankle Surgery, Mlathi Manipal Hospitals (Jayanagar, Bangalore, India)

Kerbi Alejandro Guevara Noriega, General Surgery, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Estados Unidos

Kerbi A. Guevara Noriega, MD. Ankle Surgery, Mlathi Manipal Hospitals (Jayanagar, Bangalore, India)

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