External collateral ligament tears following ankle sprains are the most common musculoskeletal sports injuries. It is estimated that one in every 1000 people suffers from an ankle sprain every day.
The mechanism of ankle sprain is mostly caused by the ankle turning inward. Meanwhile, the ligaments on the outer side of the ankle first stretch and then tear.
There are strong inner and outer ligaments that provide the stability of the ankle. The most important of these are 3 on the outside from front to back and 1 on the inside. In sprains, the ATFL ligament, which is at the front on the outside, is most often injured.
During an ankle sprain, the person suffers from tearing, mostly on the outside of the ankle. and then feels pain. There is minimal functional loss in mild ankle sprains. There is no lameness, no or very little swelling. Point-like pain occurs only when the ankle is placed in the sprained position. In moderate tears, there is pinpoint pain and swelling, limping and inability to walk. In severe injuries, widespread swelling and tenderness are present. There is a complaint of not being able to step on it due to swelling and pain in the same area. The patient cannot walk or bear weight.
In our office, we perform x-rays on the patient who presents with an ankle sprain to evaluate whether there is a fracture or dislocation. If there is no bone damage, we recommend using an ankle brace that restricts ankle movements but allows walking for 1 week in mild sprains and 3 weeks in moderate injuries.
When this type of cast is applied, if the fracture is not in the bones that carry the weight of the patient's body, we recommend using a single or ankle brace. We allow the patient to walk with the support of double crutches. In adult patients, we recommend that the patient use an ankle brace for 2 weeks after the cast is removed, depending on the patient's examination. Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation may be beneficial after Orthopedic treatment to restore the ankle's previous range of motion. Physical Therapy also strengthens the muscles surrounding the ankle to help the injured ligament repair itself. If the injury is a serious sprain, evaluate whether there is a fracture that cannot be identified on x-rays and check the head. � We use MRI imaging to understand the degree of injury.
Another condition that we frequently compare in applications with ankle sprain is fractures of the 5th metatarsal bone of the foot. Therefore, not only the ankle area but also the outer side of the foot should be evaluated by examination and x-ray.
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