Objective To observe the effect of anterior lower tibiofibular ligament rupture on ankle joint stability.Methods Ten normal adult right lower limb specimens fixed with formaldehyde for 3 months were selected. The knee joint was severed from the knee joint. The lower part of the knee joint was retained. The knee joint and sole were fixed with selfmade steel plate cap and cement base,respectively. Opening the capsule of ankle joint,placing two low-pressure pressure pressure sensitive sheets wrapped in plastic film in the tibial talus joint,and measuring the vertical compression displacement of anterior tibiofibular ligament before and after disruption of anterior tibiofibular ligament at neutral position of ankle foot,at 20 degree of dorsal extension and 30 degree of plantar flexion,under 700,1 400,2 800,and 3 500 N vertical pressure load,as well as the pressure area of tibiotalus joint surface,the pressure intensity,and the distribution of force on the tibial-talus joint surface,respectively. The data measured before the anterior lower tibiofibular ligament rupture were taken as the control group,and the data measured after the anterior lower tibiofibular ligament rupture were taken as the observation group. Results With the increase of the vertical pressure load,the vertical compression displacement,the pressure area and the pressure of the lower tibial talus joint increased gradually( all P < 0. 05). The vertical compression displacement and the pressure area of the lower tibial talus articular surface in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group at the same position and pressure load,and the pressure of the lower tibial talus articular surface was significantly lower than those in the control group( all P < 0. 05). When foot was in the neutral position,the medial side of the tibial-talus articular surface of the ankle joints of the two groups was firstly stressed. With the increase of pressure load,the range of force gradually extended to the front,rear,lateral and middle parts of the tibial-talus joint,and finally formed a triangular figure with narrow inside and wide inside. The concentrated area of force was distributed in the medial part of the middle of the tibial-talus articular surface. At 20 degrees of dorsal extension,the medial front of the tibial talus joints of the two groups were first stressed. With the increase of pressure load,the range of force gradually extended to the middle,lateral and posterior sides of the tibial talus joint surface,forming a right-angled triangular figure with anteriormedial width and posterolateral narrowness. The concentrated area of force was distributed in the medial front of the tibial talus joint. At 30 degrees of plantar flexion,the posteromedial part of the tibial-talus articular surface of the ankle joints in the two groups was firstly stressed. With the increase of pressure load,the range of force gradually extended to the middle,front and outside sides of the tibial-talus articular surface,forming an inverted triangle-like figure with front width and back narrowness,and the concentrated stress area was distributed in the front and middle parts of the tibial-talus articular surface. Compared with the control group,the stress area of the observation group tended to increase under the same pressure load. Conclusion The anterior lower tibiofibular ligament rupture can change the biomechanical properties of ankle joint and destroy its stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]