Magnetic resonance imaging of the hindfoot with surgical correlations.

Abstract

The hindfoot is an anatomical region with a complex anatomy and it is very important from the biomechanical point of view. From the functional point of view the hindfoot may be divided into two different anatomical components: the talar foot and the calcaneal foot. Many bony and ligamentous structures, complexly linked together, form this anatomical region. This review aims to analyze the complex anatomy and the most frequent pathological conditions involving the hindfoot. The difficult surgical approach to this region makes imaging, in particular MRI, of fundamental importance for clinicians in order to give complete information about the bony, ligamentous or chondral structure involved.