An ankle sprain is a common injury that occurs in both athletes and non-athletes. A sprain by definition is the stretching of tissues that surround a joint. When discussing sprains, the tissues in question are ligaments that are dense fibrous structures that run from one bone to another. The severity of the sprain is dependent on the degree that the ligaments are stretched. Ligaments will allow a certain amount of stretch, however, when this limit is passed the ligament either stays stretched out, a deformity known as attenuation, or it ruptures completely.

Depending on the mechanism of action, this injury can involve the ligaments on either the inside (medial) or outside (lateral) portion of the ankle. The most common mechanism of injury involves the foot turning inward in relation to the leg, a term we define as inversion. When this occurs, the ligaments on the outside of the ankle undergo a pathological stress and are often injured. If this occurs, it is of utmost importance to assess the integrity of the ligaments in question. This is easily accomplished through a special study called stress radiography. The physician can easily perform this study in the office and, following the measurement of certain angles, can discuss the extent of ligament injury. In certain cases, further radiographic studies may be indicated and can be discussed in further detail.

Treatment of ligament injuries varies with relation to anatomical location and severity of injury. Your physician will discuss the appropriate method of treatment with you in detail. Minor sprains may require several weeks of bracing in a variety of different devices. Additionally, resting the affected extremity as well as taking anti-inflammatory medications will assist in the healing process. Severe sprains without obvious loss of ligament integrity will require more extensive immobilization that may or may not include non-weightbearing casting. Severe sprains resulting in torn ligaments often require surgical intervention to assure that strength is restored to the affected joint. Your surgeon will be able to discuss these procedures in more detail.

Often, ligament injuries are not treated aggressively at the onset of injury. This may result in loss of joint integrity and congruity. When this occurs, the patient may have difficulty with recurrent sprains with or without strenuous activity. These injuries often affect the lifestyle of the patient. When these problems are seen and appropriately diagnosed, surgical ligament reconstruction is warranted. Specific surgical procedures can be discussed with your Podiatric surgeon.