The Relationship Between Calcaneofibular Ligament Injury and Ankle Osteoarthritis Progression: A Comprehensive Analysis of Stress Distribution and Osteophyte Formation in the Subtalar Joint

Ankle osteoarthritis (OA) mainly arises from trauma, particularly lateral ligament injuries. Among lateral ligament injuries, ankles with calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) injuries exhibit increased instability and can be a risk factor ankle OA progression. However, the relationship between CFL injury and OA progression remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to assess the relationship between CFL injuries and ankle OA by investigating stress changes and osteophyte formation in subtalar joint.