Ankle Lateral Gutter

Anterolateral impingement of the ankle is a relatively uncommon cause of chronic lateral ankle pain produced by entrapment of abnormal soft tissue in the anterolateral gutter of the ankle 2 4 anterolateral impingement is thought to occur subsequent to relatively minor inversion injuries of the ankle.

Ankle lateral gutter.

Medial and lateral gutter ankle impingement may result after total ankle replacement tar. The joint extends into the lateral gutter 1 and the medial gutter 2 the joint is evenly spaced throughout. Anterolateral ankle impingement has been known under the term anterolateral meniscoid lesion which is the result of synovitis in the anterolateral gutter. The ligamentous injury is not severe enough to c.

Fractures of the medial or lateral malleoli can lead to ankle joint instability and loss of normal ankle joint alignment. Repetitive synovial inflammation secondary to chronic lateral ankle instability produces a soft tissue mass consisting of hypertrophic synovial tissue and fibrosis within the lateral gutter. Typically the capsule and synovial lining of the ankle joint get inflamed and can develop scar tissue in either the anteromedial gutter or anterolateral gutter between the ankle bones. It is an uncommon cause of chronic lateral ankle pain 6 typically seen in athletes 3 5.

3 during an inversion ankle injury the anterior talofibular ligament and calcaneofibular ligament are affected as is the distal syndesmosis. Often nonoperative management is not successful in the setting of impingement after tar. Ankle impingement can occur after traumatic ankle sprains or even fractures. Ankle anatomy normal lateral.

The impingement process begins when an inversion sprain tears the anterior talofibular and or the calcaneofibular ligament. The examination of the osteology of the lateral ankle begins with the easily palpable tip of the fibula fig. The lateral gutter of the ankle joint can be found by running the thumb medially over the anterior and medial edge of the fibula. Impingement after tar can be a source of pain and decreased patient satisfaction which in turn results in poor outcomes 1 impingement is of an unknown complex etiology and is likely multifactorial.

From the tip the distal fibula and the shaft can be felt in its entirety by running the examiner s fingers proximally. 3 over time a meniscoid lesion is often the result of the lateral ankle injury. The posterior edge of the distal tibia is sometimes referred to as the. Anterolateral impingement syndrome of the ankle is caused by entrapment of the hypertrophic soft tissue in the lateral gutter.

Anterolateral ankle impingement 4. Patients will complain of pain around the.