Abstract
[Purpose] Using ultrasonography diagnostic equipment, measurement of the extension distance of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) was performed at rest and in the anterior drawer test (ADT), and the intra-rater and inter-rater reproducibility was examined. [Subjects] Ten ankles of 8 university students who had suffered an ankle sprain within the last 12 months were the subjects. [Method] Ultrasonographic images were captured with an 8 MHz linear probe on the anterolateral ankle at rest and at the time of ADT. The distance between the talus and the lateral malleous was measured as the ATFL extension on a PC, and the intra-rater and inter-rater reproducibility was examined using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). We also compared the correspondence of the talus - lateral malleous distance at rest as well as at the time of ADT with the t test. [Results] At both rest and at the time of ADT, high intra-rater and inter-rater reproducibilities were found. We found a significant difference between the talus - lateral malleous distance at rest, 16.5 ± 3.9 mm, and when performing the ADT, 20.9 ± 4.9 mm. [Conclusion] From the aspects of both safety and reproducibility, we confirmed the utility of quantitative assessment using ADT with ultrasonographic imaging for ankle sprains.
