Rol de los ligamentos laterales en la estabilidad vertical de la fíbula

li-ABSTRACT Do lateral ankle ligaments influence axial fibular stability? Background: in unstable ankle fractures, the syndesmosis and the deltoid ligament have been widely studied, and their importance in physiopathology and treatment is recognized. This is not the case for the lateral complex ligaments; in particular, their role in the vertical stability of the fibula is unknown. Given their anatomical position, they should prevent the proximal translation of the distal fragment of the fibular fracture. Objective: to quantify the superior translation of the fibula by applying a constant proximal traction force as the syndesmosis and lateral ankle ligaments are sequentially sectioned. Method: we used 11 fresh frozen cadaveric lower extremity specimens with a mid-leg section and an average age of 70 years (range: 50-70 years), including 6 women and 5 men. Skin and muscles were removed to the ankle level with the interosseous membrane (IOM) preservation, and a deep dissection was performed to identify the inferior tibiofibular ligaments and lateral ankle ligaments. Each specimen was mounted on a specially designed platform, with the foot fixed under an axial load of 25 kg, and a proximal traction force of 50 N was applied to the fibula.