Ankle fractures represent the third most common fragility fracture seen in elderly patients following hip and distal radius fractures. Non-operative management of these see complication rates as high as 70%. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) has complication rates of up to 40%. With either option, patients tend to be managed with a non-weight bearing period of six weeks or longer. An alternative is the use of a tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) nail. This provides a percutaneous treatment that enables the patient to mobilise immediately. This case-series explores the efficacy of this device in a broad population, including the highly comorbid and cognitively impaired. We reviewed patients treated with TTC nail for acute ankle fractures between 2019 and 2022. Baseline and surgical data were collected. Clinical records were reviewed to record any post-operative complication, and post-operative mobility status and domicile. 24 patients had their ankle fracture managed with TTC nailing. No intra-operative complications were noted. There were six (27%) post-operative complications; four patients had loosening of a distal locking screw, one significant wound infection necessitating exchange of nail, and one pressure area from an underlying displaced fracture fragment. All except three patients returned to their previous domicile. Just over two thirds of patients returned to their baseline level of mobility. This case-series is one of the largest and is also one of the first to include cognitively impaired patients. Our results are consistent with other case-series with a favourable complication rate when compared with ORIF in similar patient groups. The use of a TTC nail in the context of acute, geriatric ankle trauma is a simple and effective treatment modality. This series shows acceptable complication rates and the majority of patients are able to return to their baseline level of mobility and domicile

The Ankle Injury Management (AIM) trial was a pragmatic equivalence randomized controlled trial conducted at 24 hospitals in the United Kingdom that recruited 620 patients aged more than 60 years with an unstable ankle fracture. The trial compared the usual care pathway of early management with open reduction and internal fixation with initially attempting non-surgical management using close contact casting (CCC). CCC is a minimally padded cast applied by an orthopaedic surgeon after closed reduction in the operating theatre. The intervention groups had equivalent functional outcomes at six months and longer-term follow-up. However, potential barriers to using CCC as an initial form of treatment for these patients have been identified. In this report, the results of the AIM trial are summarized and the key issues are discussed in order to further the debate about the role of CCC. Evidence from the AIM trial supports surgeons considering conservative management by CCC as a treatment option for these patients. The longer-term follow-up emphasized that patients treated with CCC need careful monitoring in the weeks after its application to monitor maintenance of reduction. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:1472–1475

Purpose: Identifying optimal treatment strategies in patients with traumatic foot and ankle injuries has been hampered by the variety of different measurement tools and lack of validation of generic and foot-specific functional measures. It remains plausible that the choice of functional outcome measure may influence our ability to accurately measure treatment effects. This prospective observational study aims to correlate the scores across six functional outcome measures in patients with traumatic foot and ankle injuries and to examine agreement of scores and patients’ subjective health status. Method: Patients with traumatic foot or ankle injuries completed two generic, the SF-12 Health Survey and the Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment (SMFA), and four specific health outcome measures, the Foot Function Index (FFI), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) Foot and Ankle Questionnaire and the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Scale, at a single follow-up visit. Raw scores were calculated and used to assign patients to a categorical functional level (excellent, very good, good, fair or poor). Agreement between the assignments was assessed and Pearson correlation co-efficients were calculated for each pair of outcome scores. Statistical significance was determined using an α of 0.05. Results: 52 patients (mean age 43.3 ± 16.8 years) were enrolled at a mean follow-up of 15.5 months. All correlations except for that between the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scale and the mental component of the SF-12 were statistically significant. The strongest correlations were found between the SMFA, FFI, AAOS Foot and Ankle Questionnaire and the FAAM. Despite significant correlation between scores and patients’ subjective functional outcome, there was minimal agreement between assigned categorical functional levels. Conclusion: The high correlations between scores on the generic and foot-specific functional measures suggest that it is likely unnecessary to use more than one instrument when examining functional outcome in patients with traumatic foot and ankle injuries. Generic tools also appear to function as well as specific scores in this population. However, assignment of patients to a categorical functional level based on raw outcome scores must be performed with caution as the results obtained may not accurately reflect functional outcome

Purpose. Identifying optimal treatment strategies for inpatients with traumatic foot and ankle injuries has been hampered by a wide variety of outcome measures with unproven reliability and validity. It remains plausible that the choice of functional outcome measures may influence measurement of treatment effects. This prospective observational study aims to measure the correlation and agreement across six functional outcome measures in patients with traumatic foot and ankle injuries. Methods. Patients 18 years of age or older with a traumatic foot or ankle injury completed the Short Form-12 (SF-12), Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment (SMFA), Foot Function Index (FFI), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Foot and Ankle Questionnaire and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Scale at a single follow-up visit. Raw scores were calculated and transformed to a functional level of excellent, very good, good, fair or poor. Pearson correlation co-efficients providing measures of correlation and agreement between functional levels were assessed. Results. Fifty-two patients were enrolled at a mean follow-up of 15.5 months. Moderate to strong correlations were found for most pair-wise comparisons of raw scores and functional levels (?=0.43-0.92, p< 0.002). The strongest correlations were found between the SMFA, FFI, FAAM and AAOS Foot and Ankle Questionnaire. Despite significant correlation between scores, considerable disagreement between functional levels was observed. None of the 52 subjects attained the same functional level on all 6 outcome measures. Conclusion. High correlations between scores and functional level suggest it is unnecessary to use more than one outcome measure when examining functional outcome in patients with foot and ankle trauma. However, inconsistencies between functional levels attained with the different instruments suggest a need for further validation and scrutiny

Summary. Movement analysis (IMA) and activity monitoring (AM) using a body-fixed inertia-sensor can discriminate patients with ankle injuries from controls and between patients of different pathology or post-injury time. Weak correlations with PROMs show its added value in objectifying outcome assessment. Introduction. Ankle injuries often result in residual complaints calling for objective methods to score outcome alongside subjective patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Inertial motion analysis (IMA) and activity monitoring (AM) using a body-fixed sensor have shown clinical validity in patients suffering knee, hip and spine complaints. This study investigates the feasibility of IMA and AM 1) to differentiate patients suffering ankle injuries from healthy controls, 2) to compare different ankle injuries, 3) to monitor ankle patients during recovery. Methods. 32 patients suffering ankle problems (ankle sprain, n=17, 42 ±26yrs; operatively managed ankle fracture, n=15, 44 ±17yrs) during short-term recovery (6weeks to 3months post-trauma) were compared to 22 matched healthy controls (41 ±13yrs). Function was measured using IMA: Gait, Sit-Stand (STS) and 10s one-leg Balance test (OLB) were performed while wearing a 3D inertia-sensor at the lower back. Physical activity was measured during 4 successive days using a 3D accelerometer (AM), attached at the upper leg. Validated algorithms were used to derive motion parameters (e.g. speed for gait, bending angle for STS, sway area for OLB, # steps for AM). Moreover three ankle specific questionnaires were completed: Manchester-Oxford Foot and Ankle Questionnaire (MOXFQ), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score. Data was analysed using paired t-tests, one-way ANOVA and Pearson's r. Results. Both patient groups performed worse in function (IMA), activity (AM) and scales (PROM). Even at 3 months mean walking speed (−26%) and cadence (−9%) were slower while pelvic obliquity during ST (+18%) and sway during OLB (+230%) was higher than in controls (p<0.05). Activity was less regarding step/day (−31%) and sit-stand transfers (−11%, p<0.05). Also PROMs were significantly worse in patients (range 17–37%). Comparing in-between patients, significant differences were found in PROMs and function (IMA) with fracture patients walking slower (−30%) or showing more sway during one-legged balance (+250%). Mean activity scores (steps, bouts, cadence) were also less for fractures (p>0.05). During recovery, PROMs improved significantly, while function (IMA) and activity (AM) only showed small or selective improvements (e.g. 8° reduction in bending angle during ST, 20% increase in cadence). Only weak to moderate correlations were found between PROM, IMA (r-range: 0.32–0.79) and AM parameters (r-range: 0.31–0.71). Discussion & Conclusion. Function, physical activity and PROMs were impaired in patients with ankle injuries compared to healthy subjects, with the fracture group performing worse on IMA and PROMs than the sprain group. In this first study ever to measure activity in ankle patients, it was shown that e.g. fracture patients walk ca. half as many steps and bouts as age-matched controls even though at 6weeks they were unable to walk 20m without walking aids (floor effect of IMA function test). The lack of improvements in IMA and AM during recovery while PROMs improved significantly, together with the few and only weak-to-moderate correlations between PROMs, IMA and AM shows that subjective and objective recovery differ and highlight the added value of IMA and AM for objectifying routine clinical outcome assessment

Introduction. Foot and ankle injuries are a common occurrence amongst all footballers. The aim of this study was to establish the frequency and variation of foot and ankle injuries within one English Premier League (EPL) professional football club over the course of a season and attempt to identify any factors associated with the injuries. Method. Data was collected prospectively for all foot and ankle injuries suffered by first team players over the 2008–09 and 2009–10 EPL season at one EPL club. Each player's demographics were recorded along with various factors concerning or influencing the injury including ground conditions, foot posture index score (FPIS), type of injury, ability to continue playing, recovery time, mechanism of injury and footwear type. Results. The most common injury was 5th metatarsal fracture seen in 33%. Lateral ligament sprain was seen in 28% and syndesmosis injury in 17%. The mean recovery time following 5th metatarsal fractures was 76 days. 67% of all injuries (100% of 5th metatarsal fractures) were sustained while wearing blade footwear, 17% wearing the more traditional studded footwear. Supination was the most common FPIS, present in 43%. 56% of injuries were in the dominant (kicking) side while 50% of injuries were sustained in the tackle. There were no ankle fractures observed. Conclusion. 5th metatarsal fractures are the most common foot & ankle injury amongst professional footballers, ankle fractures are relatively rare in comparison. Injuries occur more frequently with blade footwear, with supination being the most common foot posture at the time of injury

Introduction: Pediatric ankle trauma is common, and mostly a self limiting condition, with most children recovering within a few days to one week. However, some children seem to be affected more than others and to recover more slowly, despite normal radiographs. We set out to determine the occurrence of radiographically occult fractures, using high-resolution ultrasound. Material and Methods: Twenty consecutive, skeletally immature patients, aged from 5 to 13 years with acute ankle injury, and normal radiographs were referred for high resolution ultrasound during the first week after the injury. A follow-up radiograph, obtained 2–3 weeks after the injury, was assessed for periosteal reaction / callus formation. Results: In 13 patients there was no ultrasonographic evidence of fracture, nor was a periosteal reaction / callus formation. Six patients had ultrasonographic evidence of small fractures of the lateral malleolus, and periosteal reaction / callus formation on the follow-up film. In one patient a subcortical compression was evident on ultrasound. In this patient, although no periosteal reaction was observed on the follow up X-ray, a small fracture line became evident. Discussion: Small lateral malleolar fractures may be missed on standard ankle radiographs. In patients with a clinical presentation consistent with a fracture, high resolution ultra-sound is a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tool

Background. Many scoring systems exist that assess ankle function, none of them are validated for use in a group of higher demand patients. This group of patients there have potential problems with ceiling effects, not being able to detect change or that a sports-subscale is not included. This study was to create a validated self-administered scoring system for ankle injuries in athletes by studying existing scoring systems and key-informant interviews. Methods. The Sports Athlete Foot and Ankle Score (SAFAS) was developed from interviews with athletes as well as expert-opinions. Initially 26 patients were interviewed before creating the scoring system, this was modified from the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score, this had been partially validated previously and the subjects regarded the content as relevant but incomplete. Secondly, SAFAS the content was validated in a group of 25 patients with a range of injuries and 14 athletes without ankle injury. It is a self-administered region specific sports foot and ankle score that containing four subscales assessing the levels of symptoms, pain, daily living and sports. Results. Spearman correlation coefficients between SAFAS and the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) are 0.88 for activities of daily living and 0.78 for sports. Content validity gave high satisfaction at 75%. There was good internal consistency of each subscale; symptoms 0.77, pain 0.92, daily living 0.92 and sports 0.88. SAFAS has shown to be able to differentiate between injured and non-injured athletes. Conclusion. SAFAS is a measurement a suitable tool to assess differences in ankle function and disability between injured and non-injured athletes. It is valid to be used as a score in those clinical conditions which affect the high levels of ankle and hind foot function

Aims. To compare the cost-utility of removable brace compared with cast in the management of adult patients with ankle fracture. Methods. A within-trial economic evaluation conducted from the UK NHS and personnel social services (PSS) perspective. Health resources and quality-of-life data were collected as part of the Ankle Injury Rehabilitation (AIR) multicentre, randomized controlled trial over a 12-month period using trial case report forms and patient-completed questionnaires. Cost-utility analysis was estimated in terms of the incremental cost per quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained. Estimate uncertainty was explored by bootstrapping, visualized on the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio plane. Net monetary benefit and probability of cost-effectiveness were evaluated at a range of willingness-to-pay thresholds and visualized graphically. Results. The incremental cost and QALYs of using brace over a 12-month period were £46.73 (95% confidence interval (CI) £-9 to £147) and 0.0141 (95% CI -0.005 to 0.033), respectively. The cost per QALY gained was £3,318. The probability of brace being cost-effective at a £30,000 per QALY willingness-to-pay threshold was 88%. The results remained robust to a range of sensitivity analyses. Conclusion. This within-trial economic evaluation found that it is probable that using a removable brace provides good value to the NHS when compared to cast, in the management of adults with ankle fracture. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(6):455–462

Purpose: A prospective study was conducted in 160 children presenting varus trauma of the ankle. The purpose of the study was to validate the Ottawa ankle rules in children. Application of the Ottawa rules can reduce the number of x-rays by 25% but little work has been reported concerning their validation (Chande 1995). Material and methods: One hundred sixty children, 71 boys and 89 girls, mean age eleven years three months (range 3 – 15 years) were included in this study conducted between February 2001 and December 2001. Clinical presentations with an obvious diagnosis of ankle fracture were excluded (six patients). Epidemiological and clinical data and the initial Ottawa criteria were recorded on a data sheet with a specific number of assigned items. A standard radiographic work-up with an anteroposterior, lateral and oblique view of the ankle was obtained in all cases. All patients were seen at a second consultation on day 8 by another physician to confirm diagnosis. The x-rays were read three times: by the emergency care physician, and by a second physician and a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon at the 8-day consultation. Results: Diagnosis which were confirmed were: benign sprains (BS) (n=71), moderately severe sprains (MS) (n=47), severe sprains (SS) (n=2), type I epiphyseal detachment (ED) (n=21), fractures (n=13) (8 fifth metatarsal, 1 triple fracture line, 1 medial malleolus, 2 lateral malleolus, 1 tarsal scaphoid). For the Ottawa criteria, ankles positive for pain and at least one other criterion were: 64/77 BS, 43/47 MS, 2/2 SS, 21/21 DE and 13/13 fractures. All fractures were diagnosed at the first exam or at the 8-day exam. Discussion: Based on our findings, the clinical Ottawa rules cannot be considered to be validated for children. Using these rules, x-rays would have been performed in 143 patients to identify 13 fractures that were not clinically obvious. Because the Ottawa rules are insufficiently specific for children, we recommend, like Brooks (1981) to use more rigorous clinical criteria for the diagnosis of ankle trauma in children. The diagnostic criteria used in this study enabled correct first intention diagnosis in 129 patients with trauma. We propose ordering x-rays only for children with signs of moderate or severe sprain or pain in zone C (base of the fifth metatarsal: 8/8) or E (medial border of the foot: tarsal scaphoid fracture). For other cases (98/160) physical examination is sufficient. Conclusion: We do not consider the Ottawa clinical rules to be valid for varus ankle trauma in children. We propose clinical criteria which can limit the number of x-ray work-ups by 60% in children with this type of trauma

Aims. The rationale for exacting restoration of skeletal anatomy after unstable ankle fracture is to improve outcomes by reducing complications from malunion; however, current definitions of malunion lack confirmatory clinical evidence. Methods. Radiological (absolute radiological measurements aided by computer software) and clinical (clinical interpretation of radiographs) definitions of malunion were compared within the Ankle Injury Management (AIM) trial cohort, including people aged ≥ 60 years with an unstable ankle fracture. Linear regressions were used to explore the relationship between radiological malunion (RM) at six months and changes in function at three years. Function was assessed with the Olerud-Molander Ankle Score (OMAS), with a minimal clinically important difference set as six points, as per the AIM trial. Piecewise linear models were used to investigate new radiological thresholds which better explain symptom impact on ankle function. Results. Previously described measures of RM and surgeon opinion of clinically significant malunion (CSM) were shown to be related but with important differences. CSM was more strongly related to outcome (-13.9 points on the OMAS; 95% confidence interval (CI) -21.9 to -5.4) than RM (-5.5 points; 95% CI -9.8 to -1.2). Existing malunion thresholds for talar tilt and tibiofibular clear space were shown to be slightly conservative; new thresholds which better explain function were identified (talar tilt > 2.4°; tibiofibular clear space > 6 mm). Based on this new definition the presence of RM had an impact on function, which was statistically significant, but the clinical significance was uncertain (-9.1 points; 95% CI -13.8 to -4.4). In subsequent analysis, RM of a posterior malleolar fracture was shown to have a statistically significant impact on OMAS change scores, but the clinical significance was uncertain (-11.6 points; 95% CI -21.9 to -0.6). Conclusion. These results provide clinical evidence which supports the previously accepted definitions. Further research to investigate more conservative clinical thresholds for malunion is indicated. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(10):841–849

Abstract

Aims. Ankle fracture is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries sustained in the UK. Many patients experience pain and physical impairment, with the consequences of the fracture and its management lasting for several months or even years. The broad aim of ankle fracture treatment is to maintain the alignment of the joint while the fracture heals, and to reduce the risks of problems, such as stiffness. More severe injuries to the ankle are routinely treated surgically. However, even with advances in surgery, there remains a risk of complications; for patients experiencing these, the associated loss of function and quality of life (Qol) is considerable. Non-surgical treatment is an alternative to surgery and involves applying a cast carefully shaped to the patient’s ankle to correct and maintain alignment of the joint with the key benefit being a reduction in the frequency of common complications of surgery. The main potential risk of non-surgical treatment is a loss of alignment with a consequent reduction in ankle function. This study aims to determine whether ankle function, four months after treatment, in patients with unstable ankle fractures treated with close contact casting is not worse than in those treated with surgical intervention, which is the current standard of care. Methods. This trial is a pragmatic, multicentre, randomized non-inferiority clinical trial with an embedded pilot, and with 12 months clinical follow-up and parallel economic analysis. A surveillance study using routinely collected data will be performed annually to five years post-treatment. Adult patients, aged 60 years and younger, with unstable ankle fractures will be identified in daily trauma meetings and fracture clinics and approached for recruitment prior to their treatment. Treatments will be performed in trauma units across the UK by a wide range of surgeons. Details of the surgical treatment, including how the operation is done, implant choice, and the recovery programme afterwards, will be at the discretion of the treating surgeon. The non-surgical treatment will be close-contact casting performed under anaesthetic, a technique which has gained in popularity since the publication of the Ankle Injury Management (AIM) trial. In all, 890 participants (445 per group) will be randomly allocated to surgical or non-surgical treatment. Data regarding ankle function, QoL, complications, and healthcare-related costs will be collected at eight weeks, four and 12 months, and then annually for five years following treatment. The primary outcome measure is patient-reported ankle function at four months from treatment. Anticipated impact. The 12-month results will be presented and published internationally. This is anticipated to be the only pragmatic trial reporting outcomes comparing surgical with non-surgical treatment in unstable ankle fractures in younger adults (aged 60 years and younger), and, as such, will inform the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) ‘non-complex fracture’ recommendations at their scheduled update in 2024. A report of long-term outcomes at five years will be produced by January 2027. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(3):184–201

Since 2008 the improvised explosive device has been responsible for a significant proportion of injuries sustained whilst on operational duty in Afghanistan. Vehicles have been developed and adapted to offer maximal protection to service personnel. As a result of the decrease in mortality, there has been an increase in the severity of injuries to the lower limb.

Hind-foot injuries are a difficult cohort of injuries to treat successfully. Those that are amenable to reconstruction carry a significant morbidity, which may result in either early or delayed amputation.

There has been a new injury pattern to the lower limb, not previously described in the medical literature. This pattern consists of a displaced intra-articular calcaneal fracture, distal third tibial fracture and midfoot injury within the same limb.

We believe the combination of the three injuries form the “unhappy triad of the ankle”. Each of the injuries is individually reconstructable, but the combination of all three primary amputation should be considered as part of the surgical options.

Introduction

Ottawa ankle rules originally described in 1992 have been shown to improve the pick-up rates of ankle fractures and avoid the need for unnecessary X-rays, thus minimising cost and radiation to the patient.

We decided to carry out an audit at our hospital to look at the pick-up rates of ankle fractures and ways to minimise x-rays for the patient both in A&E and in the orthopaedic department.

Acute syndesmotic ankle injuries continue to impose a diagnostic dilemma and it remains unclear whether weighbearing or external rotation should be exerted rotation during the imaging process. Therefore, we aimed to implement both axial load (weightbearing) and external rotation in the assessment of a clinical cohort of patients with syndesmotic ankle injuries syndesmotic using weightbearing CT imaging. In this retrospective comparative cohort study, patients with an acute syndesmotic ankle injury were analyzed using a WBCT (N= 20; Mean age= 31,64 years; SD= 14,07. Inclusion criteria were an MRI confirmed syndesmotic ankle injury imaged by a bilateral WBCT of the ankle during weightbearing and combined weightbearing-external rotation. Exclusion criteria consisted of fracture associated syndesmotic ankle injuries. Three-dimensional (3D) models were generated from the CT slices. Tibiofibular displacement and Talar Rotation was quantified using automated3D measurements (Anterior TibioFibular Distance (ATFD), Alpha Angle, Posterior TibioFibular Distance (PTFD) and Talar Rotation (TR) Angle) in comparison to a cohort of non-injured ankles. Results. The difference in neutral-stressed Alpha° and ATFD showed a significant difference between patients with a syndesmotic ankle lesion and healthy ankles (P = 0.046 and P = 0.039, respectively) The difference in neutral-stressed PTFD and TR° did not show a significant difference between patients with a syndesmotic ankle lesion and healthy ankles (P = 0.492; P = 0.152, respectively). Conclusion. Application of combined weightbearing-external rotation reveals a dynamic anterior tibiofibular widening in patients with syndesmotic ankle injuries. This study provides the first insights based on 3D measurements to support the potential relevance of applying external rotation during WBCT imaging. However, to what extent certain displacement patterns are associated with syndesmotic instability and thus require operative treatment strategies has yet to be determined in future studies

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of casting in achieving acceptable radiological parameters for unstable ankle injuries. This retrospective observational cohort study was conducted involving the retrieval of X-rays of all ankles taken over a 2 year period in an urban setting to investigate the radiological outcomes of cast management for unstable ankle fractures using four acceptable parameters measured on a single X- ray at union. The Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) was used, the X-rays were measured by a single observer. From the 1st of January 2020 to the 31st of December 2021, a total of 1043 ankle fractures were treated at the three hospitals with a male to female ratio of 1:1.7. Of the 628 unstable ankle injuries, 19% of patients were lost to follow up. 190 were managed conservatively with casts, requiring an average of 4 manipulations, with a malunion rate of 23.2%. Unstable ankle injuries that were treated surgically from the outset and those who failed conservative management and subsequently converted to surgery had a malunion rate of 8.1% and 11.0% respectively. Unstable ankle fractures pose a challenge with a high rate of radiological malunion, regardless of the treatment Casting surgery from the outset or converted to surgery, with rates of 23% and 8% and 11% respectively. In this multivariate analysis we found that conservative management was the only factor influencing the incidence of malunion, age, sex and type of fracture did not have a scientific significant influence

The incisura fibularis (IF) provides intrinsic stability to the ankle joint complex by interlocking the distal tibia and fibula. Despite a high frequency of ligamentous ankle injuries, scant attention has been given to the morphology of the IF morphology incisura fibularis in the onset and development of these lesions. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the relation between ligamentous ankle disorders and the morphometrics of the IF. A systematic literature search was conducted on following databases: PubMed, Embase and Web of Science. Search terms consisted of ‘ankle trauma’, ‘ankle injury’, ‘ankle sprain’, ‘ankle fracture’, ‘tibiofibular’, ‘fibular notch’, ‘fibular incisura’, ‘incisura fibularis’, ‘morphometric analysis’, ‘ankle syndesmosis’, ‘syndesmotic stability’. The evaluation instrument developed by Hawker et al. was used to assess the quality of the selected studies. This protocol was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines and is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021282862). Nineteen studies were included and consisted of prospective cohort (n=1), retrospective comparative (n=10), and observational (n=8) study design. Comparative studies have found certain morphological characteristics in patients with ankle instability. Several studies (n=5) have correlated a shallow IF depth with a higher incidence of ankle injury. A significant difference has also been found concerning the incisura height and angle (n=3): a shorter incisura and more obtuse angle have been noted in patients with ankle sprains. The mean Hawker score was 28 out of 36 (range=24-31). A shallower IF is associated with ligamentous ankle lesions and might be due to a lower osseous resistance against tibiofibular displacement. However, these results should be interpreted in light of moderate methodological quality and should always be correlated with clinical findings. Further prospective studies are needed to further assess the relation between the incisura morphometrics and ligamentous disorders of the ankle joint. Keywords: ankle instability, ankle injury, incisura fibularis, fibular notch, tibiofibular morphometrics, ankle syndesmosis