Compared with other joints, the ligaments of the ankle have
not been studied in great detail; consequently relatively little
literature exists. The positions of the 3 major bands of the
lateral collateral ligament are well known and documented
(Schafer et al. 1915; Sarrafian, 1983; McMinn, 1994;
Palastanga et al. 1994; Williams et al. 1995). The detailed
anatomy of the ligaments is, however, relatively complex
with variations of the major bands and several minor
additional bands being reported (Sarrafian, 1993; Burks &
Morgan, 1994; Rosenberg et al. 1995).