Ankle joint

Cause, clinical and ultrasound findings

• Reasons for the injection include synovitis/effusion in the anterior ankle joint due to arthritis or prior trauma.

• The joint may present with swelling, pain and/or stiffness or painful or limited movement.

• Ultrasound findings may include hypoechoic fluid and/or synovial proliferation with or without neovascularity bulging out of the tibiotalar joint. To discriminate hypoechoic synovial tissue from fluid collection, use Doppler (to detect vessels) or press with the transducer (fluid is shifted away).