High Ankle Injury (aitfl Tear)

Home
About Us
- - About Us
  - About AMSSM
  - FAMSSM Designation
  - Awards
  - Founders
  - Past Presidents
  - Board of Directors
  - Committees
  - Contact Us
  - Bylaws/Policy & Committee Handbooks
- - FAMSSM Applications
  - Application submission is now closed for the 2026 Class of AMSSM Fellows. New Fellows will be announced to the AMSSM membership after the first of the year and honored at the 2026 Annual Meeting.
    
    Applications for the FAMSSM Designation will be available on an annual basis. Please contact Ellen Glasgow with any questions regarding the FAMSSM application.
- - We Understand You

Communications
- - Communications
  - Collaborate.AMSSM.org
  - New Branding Campaign
  - AMSSM Member Marketing Toolkit
  - Journal Access
  - Publications/Position Statements
  - Press Releases
  - Brochures
  - Weekly Digests
- - Online AMSSM Community for Members
  - AMSSM Collaborate online community provides a forum for year-long connection, giving members the chance to have conversations, share resources and make connections with your peers.
- - AMSSM Informational Brochures
  - Find informational brochures about sports medicine physicians geared toward coaches, parents and other healthcare professionals.
Education
- - AMSSM Sports Medcasts
  - Find all current and past AMSSM Sports Medcast episodes in one convenient location.
- - AMSSM Fellow Online Lecture Series
  - The AMSSM National Fellow Online Lecture Series features talks from national experts on fundamental sports medicine topics pertinent to fellowship training and sports medicine board certification. Go to the collaborate.amssm.org site and view the available lectures in the Upcoming Events area.
Research
Advocacy
- - Legislative and Policy Issues
  - AMSSM is the go-to organization for legislative and policy issues related to sports medicine and athlete health and safety.
- - Legislation by State
  - AMSSM offers a variety of advocacy resources, including a map that tracks legislation important to sports medicine physicians.
Sports US
- - Sports Ultrasound Online Didactics
  - These 35 educational modules cover all of the didactic instructional session topics recommended for sports medicine fellows by the AMSSM.
- - Sports Ultrasound Committee
  - Find all the resources, materials and guidelines from the AMSSM Sports Ultrasound Committee
Patients
- - Need a Sports Medicine Physician?
  - FindADoc
- - SportsMedToday.com
  - Your comprehensive sports medicine resource for athletes, coaches and parents.
Additional Information
- - Additional Information
  - Sports Med Today
  - Journals
  - Weekly Digests
  - Store
  - Careers
  - Industry
Foundation

High Ankle Injury (aitfl Tear)

Authors, Editors, Case Information Author: Amber MacFarlane, DO Affiliation: Crozer Health Sports Medicine, Springfield PA Co Author(s): David Baxter, DO Senior Editor: Wesley Troyer, DO Editor: Laura Mattson, DO Clinical Vignette: A 16-year-old male high school football player presented with left ankle pain after sustaining an inversion injury with notable instability and physical exam findings concerning for a high-ankle injury. Type of Probe Used: 12 MHz Linear Transducer Unlabeled Long Axis View of the AITFL Unlabeled long axis view of anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament. Labeled Long Axis View of the AITFL Labeled Long axis view of anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament with evidence of disruption of the linear contour of the AITFL medial midportion between its attachment points on the tibia and fibula, as well as a surrounding hypoechoic signal. Interpretation Image Interpretation: Disruption of the linear contour of the AITFL medial midportion between its attachment points on the tibia and fibula consistent with a ligament tear. Notable surrounding hypoechoic signal suggestive of fluid consistent with possible joint effusion versus hematoma. Teaching Pearl: The AITFL is the most accessible of the ankle syndesmotic ligaments for ultrasound, and should be scanned from the distal tibia to the fibula in long axis when evaluating for a high ankle injury. A tear may show disruption of the normal linear fiber pattern, hypoechoic fluid or hematoma, and pain with sonopalpation. Because unstable syndesmotic injury can also involve the interosseous membrane, PITFL, deltoid ligament, or occult fracture, MRI and/or orthopedic evaluation may be appropriate appropriate when instability is suspected. References: 1. Alkorbi A, Mansour R. Ultrasound of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis. J Ultrason. 2026;26(104):20260004. doi:[10.15557/jou.2026.0004] 2. Baltes TPA, Arnaiz J, Geertsema L, et al. Diagnostic value of ultrasonography in acute lateral and syndesmotic ligamentous ankle injuries. Eur Radiol. 2021;31(4):2610-2620. doi:[10.1007/s00330-020-07305-7]
NOTE: For more information, please contact the AMSSM, 4000 W. 114th Street, Suite 100, Leawood, KS 66211 (913) 327-1415.

Back		Top

Authors, Editors, Case Information

Unlabeled Long Axis View of the AITFL

Labeled Long Axis View of the AITFL

Interpretation

UPCOMING EVENTS

FIND A SPORTS DOC