Ankle sprains are the most common sports related injury to the lower extremity. An ankle sprain is an injury to one or more of the ligaments which stabilize the ankle joint. The severity of the sprain correlates with the extent of damage to the ligaments during the injury and are classified as follows:
- Grade 1 – Slight stretching and some damage to the ligament fibres
- Grade 2 – Partial tearing of the ligament(s)
- Grade 3 – Complete tear of the ligament(s)
Symptoms
- Pain, swelling and or bruising after twisting motion of the ankle.
- Difficulty walking
- Joint stiffness
Treatment
Many of the structures of the ankle joint are susceptible to damage during and ankle sprain, including bones, tendons, nerves and joint cartilage so it is critical that you seek medical attention as soon as possible as a delay in treatment could decrease your chances of fully healing.
Your Podiatric Surgeon will assess your injury and may order various diagnostic imaging to help determine the extent of the injury. Depending on the severity of the injury determined by your Podiatric Surgeon, treatments will range from immobilization and protection to surgery in the chronic cases.