Journal List > Anat Biol Anthropol > v.32(4) > 1143403

Kwon, Park, Kim, Park, Lee, Choi, Kang, Yoon, and Cho: Anatomical Characteristics of the Anterior Talofibular Ligament in Ankle Joint of Korean Population

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.

Figures and Tables

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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Table 1

Gender and age distribution of Korean cadavers

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The data are presented as numbers of cadaver.

Table 2

Comparison of right and left feet according ATFL type

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The data are presented as number (percent).

ATFL, Anterior talofibular ligament.

Table 3

Comparison of male and female feet according ATFL type

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The data are presented as number (percent).

ATFL, Anterior talofibular ligament.

Table 4

Difference of width and length of the ATFL between type 1 and type 2

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The data (in mm) are presented as mean±SD.

ATFL, Anterior talofibular ligament.

Table 5

Difference of width and length of the ATFL between male and female

aba-32-159-i005

The data (in mm) are presented as mean±SD.

ATFL, Anterior talofibular ligament.

Table 6

Difference of width and length of the ATFL between right and left feet

aba-32-159-i006

The data are (in mm) presented as mean±SD.

ATFL, Anterior talofibular ligament.

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TOOLS
ORCID iDs

Hyung Wook Kwon
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3162-2297

Jeonghyun Park
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2589-2223

Digud Kim
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2926-4558

Kwang Rak Park
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7288-8622

Mi Jung Lee
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2477-5647

Yu Jin Choi
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8074-0986

Hansol Kang
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5981-5421

Kwan Hyun Yoon
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0175-5689

Jaeho Cho
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8680-4680

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