Seventy-one patients with symptomatic ankles and seventeen with asymptomatic ankles had 107 arthrograms made using the technique described. On the basis of these studies the following conclusions seem warranted.
Arthrography of the ankle is a simple, safe, and effective method of studying certain aspects of the normal and pathological anatomy of the ankle joint. In cases where are diagnosis appears obscure, the method has frequently proved of benefit in establishing the proper diagnosis. For the following uses arthrography is accurate and gives reproducible results:
1. To determine the site and extent of soft-tissue injury. It is particularly valuable in determining tears of the distal anterior tibiofibular ligaments.
2. To demonstrate the presence and location of collateral ligamentous tears when stress studies are difficult to perform.
3. To help ascertain if a lesion is old or recent.
4. To study the normal variation in anatomy and function of the ankle joint.