Ultrasonic assessment of injuries to the lateral complex of the ankle.

A prospective study of 114 patients who injured the lateral complex of their ankles. All patients were subjected to ultrasound scanning within 48 h of their injury under double blind conditions. The authors' results suggest that the sensitivity of the ultrasound diagnosis approaches that of conventional radiology, if used properly. Furthermore, ultrasonic scanning is a useful adjuvant to clinical assessment of patients with regards to selection for further radiological examination. A case is also made for firms in the medical physics arena to develop suitable hardware in the diagnostic ultrasonic field for fracture management.