Which describes the protocol for the Talar tilt test?

Which describes the protocol for the Talar tilt test?

• A. With ankle in neutral, plantarflexion and dorsiflexion are performed while tibia is stabilized.
• B. With ankle in plantarflexion, invert the calcaneus.
• C. With ankle in neutral, calcaneus is inverted and everted while tibia is stabilized.
• D. With ankle inverted, tibia is distracted.

Answer: (D)

The test assesses ligament stability around the ankle by stressing the joint with inversion and eversion while the leg is kept stable. The key is to have the tibia held steady and to tilt the calcaneus inward (inversion) and outward (eversion) with the ankle in a neutral position. This stresses the lateral ligament complex (including the calcaneofibular and posterior talofibular ligaments) during inversion and checks the deltoid ligament with eversion. So, the description that matches this approach is performing inversion and eversion of the calcaneus with the tibia stabilized and the ankle in neutral. Descriptions involving plantarflexion or dorsiflexion changes the specific ligaments stressed (e.g., plantarflexion emphasizes the ATFL), and a distraction of the tibia describes a different test, not the talar tilt.

The test assesses ligament stability around the ankle by stressing the joint with inversion and eversion while the leg is kept stable. The key is to have the tibia held steady and to tilt the calcaneus inward (inversion) and outward (eversion) with the ankle in a neutral position. This stresses the lateral ligament complex (including the calcaneofibular and posterior talofibular ligaments) during inversion and checks the deltoid ligament with eversion.

So, the description that matches this approach is performing inversion and eversion of the calcaneus with the tibia stabilized and the ankle in neutral. Descriptions involving plantarflexion or dorsiflexion changes the specific ligaments stressed (e.g., plantarflexion emphasizes the ATFL), and a distraction of the tibia describes a different test, not the talar tilt.