NATA Position Statements Practice Test

Syndesmotic ankle sprains involve symptoms proximal to which joint?

Distal to the talocrural joint Subtalar joint Proximal to the talocrural joint Ankle joint capsule only

Correct Answer:

Proximal to the talocrural joint

Explanation:

High ankle sprains involve tearing the ligaments that connect the tibia and fibula at the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis, which sits above the ankle joint. So the symptoms are described as proximal to the talocrural joint (the true ankle joint formed by the tibia, fibula, and talus). Distal to the talocrural joint would be below the ankle mortise, which isn’t where this injury occurs. The subtalar joint is a separate articulation beneath the ankle joint, not the site of the syndesmosis. And limiting it to the ankle joint capsule ignores that the syndesmotic ligaments lie above the joint capsule.

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