A syndesmosis sprain is an injury to which ligaments?

• A. The distal tibiofibular ligaments, causing pain during weight bearing and prolonged recovery.
• B. ATFL.
• C. Deltoid ligament.
• D. Calcaneofibular ligament.

Answer: (A)

Syndesmosis sprains involve injury to the ligaments that stabilize the distal tibia and fibula together at the ankle joint. The key stabilizers here are the distal tibiofibular ligaments (the ones connecting the tibia and fibula near the ankle) and, often, the interosseous membrane. When these ligaments are sprained, the stability between the two leg bones is compromised, leading to pain with weight bearing and a longer recovery due to the greater stability demands of the mortise.

The other ligaments listed are not part of the syndesmosis. The anterior talofibular ligament is a lateral ligament of the ankle, the deltoid ligament is on the medial side, and the calcaneofibular ligament is also a lateral ligament. They can be involved in other types of ankle sprains, but they do not constitute the syndesmotic joint.