Syndesmosis Squeeze Test suggests which injury?

• A. Fracture or stress fracture of the fibula along the fibular shaft
• B. Syndesmosis sprain
• C. Tibial fracture
• D. Lateral collateral ligament sprain

Answer: (A)

The test applies squeeze force between the tibia and fibula to stress the fibular shaft and the surrounding structures. If there is a fracture or stress fracture of the fibula along the shaft, this compression reproduces sharp, focal pain and tenderness along the fibula, pointing toward a fracture rather than a simple ligament injury. A pure syndesmotic sprain would more often show tenderness at the distal tibiofibular joint and be diagnosed with tests that specifically stress the syndesmosis, while a tibial fracture would localize to the tibia, and a knee ligament injury would not be diagnosed from this ankle-focused maneuver. So the most likely finding when this test is positive is a fracture or stress fracture of the fibula along the shaft.