Anat Biol Anthropol.  2019 Dec;32(4):159-165. 10.11637/aba.2019.32.4.159.

Anatomical Characteristics of the Anterior Talofibular Ligament in Ankle Joint of Korean Population

• Kwon HW
• Park J
• Kim D
• Park KR
• Lee MJ
• Choi YJ
• Kang H
• Yoon KH
• Cho J

• KMID: 2467469
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11637/aba.2019.32.4.159

Abstract

The anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) plays a role to stabilize ankle joint and prevent ankle sprain by limiting the motion range of ankle joint. The aim of this study was to classify the shapes of the ATFL according to the shape and type of bands. For this study, formalin-fixed 42 Korean cadavers were used and 74 feet were dissected (49 males and 25 females / 38 right, 36 left). The average age was 77 years old. The number of bands in the ATFL was counted according to Kakegawa et al. The location of the attachment area of ATFL was determined. It's length and width were also measured. All of them were measured in prone position, and in neutral position of ankle. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 21.0 software (SPSS, Chicago, IL). Descriptive statistics were used to determine the mean and standard deviation, and independent T-tests were used to identify differences according to gender, left and right, and type of ATFL. As a result, type 1 and type 2 in the ATFL accounted for 48.6% and 51.4% of feet respectively. The length of the ATFL was 20.6±2.4 mm, the width of the proximal attachment was 13.7±3.4 mm, the mid-point was 12.9±3.5 mm, and the distal attachment was 13.0±3.4 mm. Type 2 was wider than type 1 (p<.001), type 1 was longer than type 2 (p<.05), and male ATFL was longer than female (p<.05). In conclusion, the morphological characteristics of ATFL in Koreans were different from other ethnic group. The continuous accumulation of morphological data on ATFL will offer the basic data of Korean anthropological characteristics, and it will be helpful for understanding the anatomical structure of the ankle, as well as for the diagnosis and treatment of ankle disease.

Keyword

Ankle; Ligament; Sprain; Cadaver

MeSH Terms

Ankle Injuries
Ankle Joint*
Ankle*
Cadaver
Diagnosis
Ethnic Groups
Female
Foot
Humans
Ligaments*
Male
Prone Position
Sprains and Strains

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Anterior talofibular ligament classification according to the number of fiber bundle. (a) type 1 (ligament with one band), (b) type 2 (Ligament with two bands), (c) type 3 (ligament with three bands).

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  Fig. 2 Ankle specimens with single and double banded ATFL. (a) type 1 (ligament with one band), (b) type 2 (ligament with Two bands). ATFL, Anterior talofibular ligament; CFL, Calcaneofibular ligament.

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