Ankle Sprains

Ankle sprains are very common orthopedic injuries. A sprain is stretching or tearing of ligaments. Since there are multiple ligaments holding the ankle complex together, there is a myriad of injury patterns that can result from "rolling" your ankle.

On the outside of the ankle there is a ligament complex called the lateral collateral ligaments. These are the most commonly injured in a typical ankle sprain. On the inside of the ankle lies the deltoid ligament, and triangular shaped ligament complex that can secondarily become injured during a lateral sprain or primarily injured, such as when stepping in a hole and the foot is turned outwards. And in between the leg bones, the tibia and fibula, is a strong ligament complex called the syndesmosis that can also become torn in high ankle sprain patterns.

When I examine patients, I am taking inventory of the integrity of all of these structures, as well as the bones that they connect to. I pay special attention to the ability of the ligament to restrain motion. This can clue us in to whether a ligament has been simply stretched, partially, or fully torn.

An unstable ankle as a result of torn ligaments can be especially problematic long term. This is due to the aberrant motion allowed when ligaments are stretched or unstable. The result is premature wear of the cartilage lining the joint which can lead to early arthritis. Thus the reason we take even 'simple' sprains very seriously both in initial approach and with rehabilitation.

The content of this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.