Journal of Clinical Case Reports

Foot and Ankle Reconstruction for Adult Acquired Flatfoot after Ligamentous Ankle Injury

Abstract

Amanda L Allen, Alexandria M Carlisle, Beaman Beaman, Cristobal S Berry-Caban, James Santangelo and Asim Raja

Introduction: Ankle syndesmosis injuries typically occur when the foot is forced upward and outward. Syndesmosis of the ankle is the joint that connects the tibia and fibula and allows these two bones to work together to provide stability to the lower leg. Case: 24 year old active duty female service member presented to Womack Army Medical Center for left ankle pain approximately 12 weeks after incurring an injury while playing basketball. She reported increased pain with activity and no improvement when using a brace. Imaging studies performed on the weight bearing left leg, ankle, and foot revealed a healed proximal fibular fracture, syndesmosis widening with lateral shift and medial space widening, and decreased longitudinal arch height. A magnetic resonance imaging revealed a deltoid ligament tear and widening of the syndesmosis, but showed no tibialis posterior tendinopathy. The patient was taken to the operating room for open reduction internal fixation of the syndesmosis with a medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy, deltoid ligament repair, gastrocnemius recession, and medial cuneiform opening wedge osteotomy. Discussion: The coexistence of syndesmosis and deltoid ligament injuries modifies ankle joint motion and significantly destabilizes the ankle joint. Radiographs of the affected limb to rule out any fracture are important; however, stress radiographs may be needed to accurately determine stability of the ankle joint as clinical examination cannot assess or diagnose deltoid ligament injury.