The CFL is the second lateral ankle ligament to fail in ankle sprains, torn in Grade II-III injuries. Unlike the ATFL, the CFL crosses both the ankle and subtalar joints, providing combined talocrural and subtalar stability. It runs deep to the peroneal tendons and their sheath — CFL tears are associated with peroneal tendon sheath tears in Grade III sprains. The talar tilt test assesses CFL integrity.
| Origin | Inferior tip of the lateral malleolus (just anterior to the PTFL origin) |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Lateral calcaneus (lateral surface — to the peroneal tubercle area) |
| Actions | Primary restraint against talar tilt in the neutral and dorsiflexed positions; crosses both the ankle and subtalar joints providing stability to both |
|---|
CFL integrity assessment: the talar tilt test under local anaesthesia or fluoroscopic stress radiography shows increased talar tilt (greater than 10 degrees or more than 5 degrees compared with the opposite side). MRI confirms CFL tear as absence of the normal fibular to calcaneal ligament with surrounding oedema. Brostrom-Gould repair addresses both ATFL and CFL simultaneously.
Grade III lateral ankle complex tear involving CFL and peroneal tendon sheath requiring assessment for concurrent peroneal tendon pathology during Brostrom repair.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
