Since man became upright, the daily load on his legs has only increased. In addition, many at least once in their lives were injured: sprains, fractures or dislocations. The bones of the ankle are one of the most vulnerable places, often subjected to various mechanical damage. A comprehensive examination to prescribe the correct treatment necessarily includes an x-ray of this joint.
Anatomical structure
The ankle is considered the most sensitive and important mechanism of those that are directly related to the feet. The structure contains bone, tendon and muscle formations. Confident and painless movement of the feet, the ability to maintain balance and stability of the body position is allowed only with the normal functioning of all elements of the ankle. Full walking, jumping and running are not available or very difficult if this joint is damaged. In addition, the bones of this part of the body are responsible for the distribution of weight between the two legs.
The anatomy of the ankle includes the internal and external joints,as well as anterior and posterior sections. The upper limit is conditionally located approximately 7-8 cm above the medial malleolus, and the limitation between the joint and the foot can be found along the line between the ankles. The anterior section of the ankle is located on the back side, and the posterior section is in the region of the Achilles tendon. At the joint, the fibula, tibia, and calcaneus are combined with the foot bone and talus.
Indications and contraindications
There are certain prerequisites for the X-ray procedure, which are considered by surgeons, orthopedists and traumatologists. If there is a suspicion of gout, osteophyte, arthritis, arthrosis or flat feet, the patient is issued a referral for an appropriate examination. On the other hand, the doctor may order an x-ray of the ankle for other reasons, such as the presence of a tumor disease, a degenerative change in the structure of the bone, or a suspected crack or fracture.
In some cases, diagnostics may not be recommended. If everything is clear with indications for an x-ray of the ankle, then contraindications may not be so obvious at first glance. First of all, do not check too often. The allowed maximum is once every six months. Some people have intolerance to contrast agents, however, this is only true in the situation when an x-ray with contrast is performed. Pregnant and lactating mothers should also refrain from having the procedure for this period.
What research shows
The radiography technique involves obtaining a two-dimensional image of the bone tissue of the body area being checked. Structures with a high density are perfectly visible to the eye of a professional who, with their help, is able to clarify the diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment. In this case, soft tissues can also be detected on the x-ray of the ankle joint. The latter are indicated by a dark color, unlike the bones, through which the rays practically do not penetrate, and, therefore, the color of the bone structures in the picture becomes white.
In the picture, the doctor can detect all the pathologies of the joint, as well as determine how damaged the connective tissues were. In this way, a number of dangerous conditions can be prevented, for example, the disposition of the bones, which can lead to the complete deprivation of the patient's mobility and loss of functionality of the articulation of bone structures. Sometimes an x-ray of the ankle is not informative enough. In a similar position, doctors prescribe a CT scan of the same joint.
Detectable pathologies
As a rule, an x-ray examination is enough to establish an accurate diagnosis. Signs of various pathologies can be traced due to the characteristic features in the picture. The list of possible diagnoses after the procedure is presented below:
- Presence of malignant or benign neoplasms.
- Confirmation of suspected ankle injury. X-ray in the desired projection without problemsfixes fractures, dislocations, subluxations or cracks in the joint. In addition, the ankle may also be injured.
- Osteomyelitis. This is the name of purulent inflammation of the ankle joint.
- Deformation. It can be of various types, usually consists of flat feet or clubfoot. It is divided into congenital or acquired, for example, due to wearing uncomfortable shoes.
- Gout of the ankle joint. This condition is characterized by the fact that uric acid begins to accumulate in the connective tissue.
- Arthritis or arthrosis in chronic or acute stages. If these diseases are suspected, the correctness of the preliminary diagnosis can only be established by performing an x-ray of the ankle joint, which will show the degree of injury to the bones and cartilage.
Transcript of results
The doctor compares the received pictures with the standards of the norm. To complete the picture, it is usually necessary to consider several projections of the ankle. The list of conclusions that the doctor can draw from the pictures is given in the list below:
- Presence of hyperostosis or atrophy. It is determined by the location, size and shape of the bones of the joint.
- The surface of the bones. Various malignant tumors can destroy hard tissues or lead to their ossification and exfoliation.
- Joint space. Uneven narrowing is noted if the patient has arthritis or arthrosis. In the later stages of these diseases, fusion of the joint space can occur, due to which a person will lose the ability to move.yourself.
- Structure of bone tissue. There are two diseases - osteoporosis and osteosclerosis. In the first case, bone density decreases, and in the second it increases.
In addition, the doctor pays attention to the height and angle of the arch of the foot. Normally, these indicators should be equal to 35 mm and 130 degrees, respectively. The height of the arch of the foot may be somewhat less, the specified value of 35 mm is the maximum allowable. If there are deviations from the norm in the x-ray of the ankle, then we can talk, for example, about longitudinal flat feet.
Additional Research
Most often they are required when the procedure is too little informative. Among the alternative diagnostic methods in addition to X-rays, the following types are relevant today:
- ultrasound examination (ultrasound) for a detailed examination of the adjacent joint cavities, as well as the detection of accumulated fluid in them;
- computed tomography (CT), examining bones in the most thorough way;
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in which all soft tissues of the area being viewed are clearly visible.
Identification of flat feet
If this pathology is suspected, it is necessary to conduct a special version of the study. In particular, the most relevant is the x-ray of the feet with a load. Differences from the usual variety are in the procedure itself. To obtain a direct and lateral projection of the foot, the patient needs to stand on one leg, that ispress with the whole body weight on the joint in question.
This method is often used when examining young children and adolescents. With a positive result, the patient is prescribed to wear special orthopedic shoes. This measure reduces the risk of foot deformity in the future to a minimum. This type of x-ray is one of the most frequently performed procedures, since the presence of flat feet of a certain stage makes it possible not to enter the army on conscription. According to statistics, about 30-45% of adults have similar problems with the ankle joints.
Treatment of torn ligaments
This kind of injury is very common. It can be caused by getting hit on the side of the foot, bending the joint while running or walking fast, or accidentally turning the foot in or out. Symptoms include acute burning pain, swelling, hematoma, and impaired mobility. In any case, the doctor after the examination appoints an x-ray to understand what he is dealing with.
Treatment of an ankle ligament tear is most often conservative. Restoring physiotherapy is carried out, a course of tablets is prescribed, as well as wearing bandages and special fastening bandages. In exceptional cases (one in ten patients), surgical intervention is required: foot surgery, drug blockade or joint puncture.
Conservative methods
In the very first hours, it is best to try to reduce swelling and reduce pain. Forall you need to do is apply something cold to the injury, such as an ice pack.
Next, the joint is fixed. This is necessary to prevent aggravation of the injury. Ankle bandage promotes fixation of damaged tissues and their speedy recovery at rest. For severe injuries, put a cast on the leg.
Medicines are prescribed by the attending physician. In addition, he will recommend a specific individual exercise program. Physiotherapy combined with physical education will help to quickly restore the damaged joint.
The Importance of Radiography
Injuries and pathologies of the ankle are not uncommon. Timely diagnosis will make it possible to prevent various complications on the way. With a certain discomfort, you should immediately contact an orthopedist, surgeon or traumatologist. At the same time, you can bring an already taken x-ray of the ankle to the doctor, because it is hardly possible to decipher the results on your own without special education. In addition, only a specialist will be able to determine the features of treatment.
