Are lateral ankle ligament banding patterns and band thickness symmetrical between contralateral uninjured limbs?

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether the number and thickness of ligament bands of lateral ankle ligaments are symmetrical between contralateral uninjured ankles of the same healthy person, using sonography. Materials and Methods: The ligaments investigated include the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), calcaneofibular ligament (CFL), and the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL). The influence of age, sex, height, weight, body mass index, and hours of physical exercise on uninjured ankle ligament band thickness was also explored. The lateral ankle ligaments of both limbs of 27 physically active adults (18–50 years of age) were sonographically imaged in short and long-axis planes to determine the number of bands and measure each band thickness. The ligament banding and ankle ligament band thickness was compared between contralateral uninjured limbs. Results: Bilateral symmetry of the number of ATFL, CFL, and AITFL bands was consistently identified between right and left uninjured limbs using short-axis sonographic imaging. No significant difference (P >.05) in ankle ligament band thickness (acquired from long-axis images of ligament bands) between uninjured contralateral limbs was identified. Conclusion: The current sonographic practice of comparison of ankle ligament morphology and thickness between uninjured and injured limbs of the same person following an acute ankle injury to aid diagnosis of injury would appear justified.