An ankle sprain is a common injury and occurs with falling or sudden twisting of the ankle joint. It can also occur when the foot lands in an awkward position after a jump. It commonly occurs with sports participation and can also occur when jumping or running on an irregular surface.
A sprain is stretching or tearing of a ligament. Ligaments connect adjacent bones in a joint and provide stability to the joint. A sprain is diagnosed from a complete medical history, including a history of any previous ankle injuries. A physical examination is essential for an accurate diagnosis of the condition. An X-ray may be ordered to confirm the diagnosis.
Ankle sprains can cause pain, swelling, tenderness, bruising, and stiffness, numbness in the toes, and inability to walk or bear weight on the ankle accompanied by persistent discomfort.
Instability of the ankle can result from inadequate healing of a sprained ligament.
Acute injuries can be managed with conservative treatment measures such as RICE method (rest, ice, compression and elevation), medications, bracing, and physical therapy.
Surgical intervention to reconstruct the injured ligament may be considered in patients with a high degree of instability and in those who have failed to respond to non-surgical treatments.
Ankle ligament reconstruction may be performed under general anesthesia. A small incision is made in your ankle. Stretched or torn ligaments will be shortened and stitched as needed. Sometimes, a weakened ligament is reconstructed with a section of tendon derived from the foot and around the ankle. When there is severe tissue loss, an allograft tendon can also be used to reconstruct the ligaments. Anchor or small absorbable screws may be used +/- an internal brace to augment the strength of the repair and improve speed of recovery.
The recovery time after ankle ligament reconstruction depends on the extent of injury and the procedure performed. For the first few weeks after surgery, crutches or a wheelchair are necessary to avoid bearing any weight on the reconstructed ankle joint.Complications of ankle ligament reconstruction may include infection, nerve damage, ankle joint stiffness, and recurrent instability.