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Disorders of the Ankle and Foot: Lateral
Introduction
The most common indications for an ultrasonographic examination of the lateral aspect of the ankle are suspicion of peroneal tendon pathology or lesions of the lateral ligament complex. Patients with ligament injuries are generally examined in a chronic phase to detect late complications of ligament tears or undiagnosed associated lesions. Ultrasonography, allowing a dynamic assessment of the structures, is the best imaging modality for examination of the tendons and ligaments, but may also detect lesions of the bones (fractures) or retinacula (tendon instability). An important drawback is the inability to display osteochondral lesions of the ankle joint and tears of the interosseous ligaments (talocalcaneal).
Peroneal Tendons
Peroneal tendon pathology is frequent, especially tenosynovitis, but more significant changes like tendinopathy, tendon tears or tendon instability also occur. Of the two peroneal tendons, the peroneus brevis tendon is the most prone to injury as it is closely related to the lateral malleolus. Inflammation may also occur at the insertion of the peroneus brevis tendon at the base of the fifth metatarsal bone (enthesopathy).
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