ABSTRACT
Objective To discuss the anatomical characteristics of the syndesmotic ligament based on MRI images, and to provide anatomical basis for clinical syndesmotic ligament injury and ligament reconstruction. Methods Totally 228 cases of MRI data from diseased person enrolled in the Orthopedics and Traumatology Department of the Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 2010 to May 2021 were retrospectively studied. Measurement of corresponding geometrical data of the ligaments in syndesmosis were analysed. Results The average length of the syndesmosis anterior ligament was (9. 75±3. 54) mm, the average width (7. 27±3. 09) mm, and the average thickness (2. 50± 0. 93 ) mm. The angle with the horizontal plane was ( 47. 49 ± 14. 60) ° ; The average length of the posterior syndesmosis ligament of the lower tibia and fibula was (8. 94±2. 43) mm, the average width was (6. 70±2. 80) mm, the average thickness was (2. 32±1. 10) mm, and the angle with the horizontal plane was (40. 84±13. 13)°; the average length of the inferior transverse ligament was (9. 81±3. 21) mm, the average width was (2. 28±1. 51) mm, and the angle with the horizontal plane was 14. 59° ± 8. 02°; the average length of the inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis interosseous ligament was (12. 92±4. 77) mm, and the average width was (3. 28±1.99) mm. The anatomical data of the anterior, posterior, inferior transverse, and interosseous ligaments of the lower tibiofibular syndesmosis, male and female, were compared, and the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion Studying the anatomical structures and characteristics of the syndesmotic ligament and analyzing the effect of the syndesmotic ligament on the stability of the ankle joint can offer effective diagnostic means or suggestions of syndesmosis injuries in the clinically diagnose and treat.