Resume the work.
Physician CAQ · Sports Medicine
Personal board-exam prep
Sign in
New here? Create an account
A basketball player rolls his ankle inward on landing and reports an audible pop followed by rapid lateral swelling and bruising. Which ligament is most likely torn?
- AAnterior talofibular ligament
- BCalcaneofibular ligament
- CPosterior talofibular ligament
- DDeltoid ligament
- EDistal tibiofibular ligament
Correct — the answer is A
In the classic inversion-plantarflexion mechanism the anterior talofibular ligament fails first and is torn in roughly 90% of lateral sprains. The calcaneofibular ligament is added only in more severe injuries, and the posterior talofibular ligament rarely tears. The deltoid and syndesmotic ligaments involve different mechanisms.
Source: CAQ Sports Medicine — Ankle-Foot / Lateral Ankle Sprain
Practice questions
Board-style questions with instant feedback and a sourced explanation for every answer — aimed at the regions where your mastery is lowest.