Severe Ankle Sprain
Damage of the outer ligaments are the most common sport injuries. The outer ligament apparatus consists of three different ligament parts that connect the tip of the outer ankle with the calcaneus and the talus. People who do sports that require short sprints and stopping movements, such as football, tennis or volleyball are particularly endangered. The injury occurs when the foot is sprained outwards, sometimes leading to a massive swelling caused by the also ruptured skin veins. Further symptoms are pains and the inability to exercise the foot. If the pains are not too severe the ankle joint can be "opened": By the loss of the outer ligament's function the joint surfaces can be separated by twisting the foot inwards or pushing the lower leg in the direction of the heel when the foot is fixated. The affected leg should be immediately relieved, put up, splinted and cooled. Two pictures taken from different directions show if the bone is fractured. Possible additional injuries of the bone and cartilage should be ruled out. The ligament rupture is accurately diagnosed by pictures that are made with a special fixing-apparatus and using standardised pressure. On the x-ray picture you can see two sides of the joint. An outer ligament rupture does not usually have to be operated on. It has been shown that even with serious injuries of the outer ligament apparatus a functionally good result can be achieved without an operation. An orthesis or a splint fixates the ligaments sufficiently. The foot can be strained as far as the pains allow it. The healing takes about eight to twelve weeks. You should not do sports for about two to four months. Complicated injuries need surgical treatment. Depending on the injury pattern, a broken ankle or torn ligament parts are fixed with a screw. Ruptured ligaments are sewn. The severity of the injury decides whether these operations are performed in-patient or outpatient. After an operation the leg is immobilised for about six weeks.
