Ankle Injury : Sprain

This represents one of the most common orthopaedic injuries. A sprain refers to an injury to the ligaments. Ligaments are composed of a fibrous connective tissue that serve to stabilize a joint.

The ankle is often sprained when it is "folded" over on itself. This may happen when one walks on an uneven surface, down a hill, or steps into a hole.

Common symptoms include pain and difficulty with ankle motion that usually increases in severity after several hours. Patients with ankle sprains often attempt to walk on the injured ankle until the pain (and swelling) becomes too severe. Typically there is tenderness and swelling to the outer (lateral) aspect of the ankle joint.

Evaluation will include bone x-rays to rule out the presence of a fracture. A complete examination for nerve and blood vessel integrity will also be performed. More serious ankle sprains can result in complete separation of supporting ligaments and this usually becomes evident on physical examination.

Treatment includes ice packs and elevation of the ankle for 24 to 48 hours. Crutches are useful in all cases to avoid weight bearing on the injury. More serious sprains will be benefited by splinting (half cast), but most minor sprains can be effectively managed with a (Ace) bandage wrap. Acetaminophen, aspirin or anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen) are useful for pain control.

Orthopaedic consultation should be part of the follow-up. Ankle sprains can take up to 4-6 weeks to heal. Those who return to work after several weeks will often require additional ankle support (Aircast). Reinjury is common if adequate time is not allowed for recovery.


12 Hip Dislocation
12 Hip Fracture
12 Insect Stings and Spider Bites
12 Human and Animal Bites
12 Shoulder Injury Fracture
12 Toxic Inhalations and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
12 Facial Injury Jaw Fracture and Dislocation
12 Kidney Injury
12 Knee Injury General Considerations
12 Knee Injury Contusion
12 Knee Injury Fracture
12 Knee Injury Sprain
12 Stab Wounds
12 Leg Injury Fractures and Contusions
12 Leg Injury Shin Splints
12 Lightning Injury
12 Oral and Tongue Injuries
12 Nasal Fracture or Contusion
12 Neck Injury General Considerations
12 Neck Injury Fracture
12 Neck Injury Spinal Cord Injury
12 Pelvic Bone Fracture
12 Puncture Wounds
12 Chest Injury Rib Fracture
12 Back Injury Sacrococcygeal Injury
12 Scorpion Bites
12 Abrasion Injuries
12 Shoulder Injury Clavicle Fracture
12 Shoulder Injury Strains and Sprains
12 Snakebite
12 Neck Injury Spinal Cord Injury
12 Abdominal Injury Ruptured Spleen
12 Foot Injury Toe Fracture and Sprain
12 Vaginal or Vulvar Injury
12 Drowning and Near Drowning

INJURIES

Abdominal Injury
Abdominal Injury: Contusion
Abrasion
Amputations
Animal Bites
Ankle Fracture
Ankle Injury
Ankle Injury: Contusion
Ankle Sprain
Back Injury
Back Injury : Sacrococcygeal Injury
Back Strain
Burns
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Chemical Burns
Chest Injuries
Chest Injury: Aortic Rupture
Chest Injury: Hemothorax
Chest Injury: Myocardial Contusion
Chest Injury : Pneumothorax
Chest Injury: Pulmonary Contusion
Chronic Back Pain
Clavicle Fracture
Compression Fractures
Contusions
Decompression Sickness
Disc Disease
Gunshot Wounds
Hand Injury: Fingertip Amputations
Head Injury
Liver Injury
Marine Stings
Muscle Strains
Rib Fracture
Ruptured Spleen
Shoulder Injury: A-C Separation
Spider Bites
Spinal Cord Injury
Sternum Fracture
Testicular Injury
Wrist Injury
hi Scuba Related Injuries
i Hand Injury Finger Amputaion
de Lecerations
de Cold Injury and Hypothermia
dd Dental Injury
xs Facial Injury
sdf Neck Injury
e Shoulder Injury Dislocation
e Ear Injury
ed Elbow Injury
de Elbow Injury Fracture
dfe Elbow Injury Nursemaids
ee Electrical Injury
de Eye Injury
ed Facial Injury General Considerations
fr Facial Injury Contusion
ed Hand Injury Finger Sprains
ded Fingernail and Toenail Injuries
dd Hand Injury Fractures
23 Head Injury Skull Fracture and Concussion
44 Chest Injury Myocardial Contusion
fde Heat Illness
ed Hest Injury Hemothorax
y Back Injury Disc Disease
;l High Altitude Illness


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