Open AccessSimplified Diagnostic Algorithm for Lauge-Hansen Classification of Ankle Injuries
Author(s) -
Heitor Okanobo,
Bharti Khurana,
Scott E. Sheehan,
Alejandra Durán-Mendicuti,
Afshin Arianjam,
Stephen Ledbetter
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
radiographics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1527-1323
pISSN - 0271-5333
DOI - 10.1148/rg.322115017
Subject(s) - ankle , medicine , sequence (biology) , mechanism (biology) , ligament , radiography , orthodontics , radiology , surgery , philosophy , genetics , epistemology , biology
Ankle injuries occur in a predictable sequence, allowing a logical understanding of their classification once the injury mechanism is recognized. The Lauge-Hansen classification system was developed on the basis of the mechanism of trauma and is useful for guiding treatment. Three radiographic views of the ankle (anteroposterior, mortise, and lateral) are necessary to classify an injury with the Lauge-Hansen system. Two additional criteria are also necessary: the position of the foot at the time of injury and the direction of the deforming force. Because understanding the mechanism of trauma is fundamental to classifying the injury, three-dimensional movies were assembled for each classification, showing the sequence of ligament rupture and bone fractures that occurs with each type of traumatic mechanism. Supplemental material available at http://radiographics.rsna.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1148/rg.322115017/-/DC1.