Associations between MRI findings and symptoms in patients with chronic ankle sprain.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides an accurate method of observing and diagnosing injuries of the ligament complex of the ankle. However, the association between ankle symptoms and MRI findings has been unclear. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between ankle pain and MRI findings. This prospective study included 40 patients with ankle pain after inversion injury and 10 healthy volunteers. Correlations among the ankle symptoms (tenderness on the anterior talofibular ligament, pain during varus stress in a neutral and plantarflexed ankle), and MRI findings were analyzed. A complete tear of the anterior talofibular ligament correlated with ankle pain during varus stress in the neutral position (r = 0.365, p = .031) and tenderness at the anterior talofibular ligament (r = 0.362, p = .032). The results of our study suggest that a complete tear of the anterior talofibular ligament will correlate with lateral ankle pain.