Bilateral External Torque CT, a Novel Diagnostic Tool for Detection of Syndesmotic Insufficiency

"The External Torque Device was developed, which allows bilateral stressing of the syndesmosis by external rotation. Both lower legs are stabilized by a special knee brace (the fibula remains free to float) or by the hip joints, which are end rotated on both sides, while an external rotation force of maximum 7.5Nm (or up to the respective pain threshold) can be set on both sides using torque newton meters. If no load is possible - which the examination of the syndesmosis generally does not allow - an intra-articular local anesthesia with 5ml ropivacaine 2mg/ml can be performed under sterile conditions after the patient's consent."