| Superior tibiofibular articulation | |
| Latin: | articulatio tibiofibularis |
The superior tibiofibular articulation (also called proximal tibiofibular joint) is an arthrodial joint between the lateral condyle of tibia and the head of the fibula.
The contiguous surfaces of the bones present flat, oval facets covered with cartilage and connected together by an articular capsule and by anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments.
When the term tibiofibular articulation is used without a modifier, it refers to the proximal, not the distal (i.e., inferior) tibiofibular articulation.
Injuries to the proximal tibiofibular joint are uncommon and usually associated with other injuries to the lower leg. Dislocations can be classified into the following five types: [1]
As there are often concomitant fractures and ligamentous injuries (e.g., ankle fracture), anterolateral and posteromedial dislocations may be overlooked on first examination, with the potential to cause chronic instability. If the dislocation is recognized and treated properly, prognosis is typically good, although injury to the common peroneal nerve may occur. Inferior dislocations are exceptional as they usually only occur in avulsion (traumatic amputation) injuries. Subluxation may also occur in diseases with ligamentous laxity (e.g., Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), muscle weakness (e.g., muscular dystrophy), or secondarily to degeneration (e.g., in rheumatoid arthritis).[2]