Management of Ankle Sprains: Difference between revisions

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== Introduction ==
== Introduction ==
 
Ankle sprains are considered one of the most frequent traumatic type of injury. Yeung et al, 1994, in an epidemiological study of unilateral ankle sprains, reported that the dominant leg is 2.4 times more vulnerable to sprain than the non-dominant one.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />A conservative treatment is the common approach to ankle injury. The prognosis is good, but there are factors influencing the full recovery.  
* Ankle sprains are one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries, being the most frequent musculoskeletal trauma among athletes.
* Most of these injuries are successfully treated conservatively; however, up to 70% of patients can develop long-lasting symptoms. Therefore, understanding prognostic factors for an ankle sprain could help clinicians identify patients with poor prognosis and choose the right treatment.
* Most of these injuries are successfully treated conservatively; however, up to 70% of patients can develop long-lasting symptoms. Therefore, understanding prognostic factors for an ankle sprain could help clinicians identify patients with poor prognosis and choose the right treatment.
* A suggested approach will be presented in order to positively identify the factors that should warrant a more aggressive attitude in the initial conservative treatment.
* A suggested approach will be presented in order to positively identify the factors that should warrant a more aggressive attitude in the initial conservative treatment.
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Lateral ankle sprains usually occur during a rapid shift of body center of mass over the landing or weight-bearing foot. The ankle rolls outward, whilst the foot turns inward causing the lateral ligament to stretch and tear. When a ligament tears or is overstretched its previous elasticity and resilience rarely returns. Some researchers have described situations where return to play is allowed too early, compromising sufficient ligamentous repair.<ref>Hubbard TJ, Hicks-Little CA. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2547872/pdf/attr-43-05-523.pdf Ankle ligament healing after an acute ankle sprain: an evidence-based approach]. J Athl Train. 2008 Sep-Oct;43(5):523-9. </ref><br>Reports have proposed that the greater the level of plantar flexion the higher the likelihood of sprain<ref>Wright IC, Neptune RR, van den Bogert AJ, Nigg BM. The influence of foot positioning on ankle sprains. J Biomech. 2000 May;33(5):513-9.</ref>
Lateral ankle sprains usually occur during a rapid shift of body center of mass over the landing or weight-bearing foot. The ankle rolls outward, whilst the foot turns inward causing the lateral ligament to stretch and tear. When a ligament tears or is overstretched its previous elasticity and resilience rarely returns. Some researchers have described situations where return to play is allowed too early, compromising sufficient ligamentous repair.<ref>Hubbard TJ, Hicks-Little CA. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2547872/pdf/attr-43-05-523.pdf Ankle ligament healing after an acute ankle sprain: an evidence-based approach]. J Athl Train. 2008 Sep-Oct;43(5):523-9. </ref><br>Reports have proposed that the greater the level of plantar flexion the higher the likelihood of sprain<ref>Wright IC, Neptune RR, van den Bogert AJ, Nigg BM. The influence of foot positioning on ankle sprains. J Biomech. 2000 May;33(5):513-9.</ref>


Yeung et al, 1994, in an epidemiological study of unilateral ankle sprains, reported that the dominant leg is 2.4 times more vulnerable to sprain than the non-dominant one.<ref>Yeung MS, Chan KM, So CH, Yuan WY. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1332043/pdf/brjsmed00014-0042.pdf An epidemiological survey on ankle sprain.] Br J Sports Med. 1994 Jun;28(2):112-6. </ref><ref>Roos KG, Kerr ZY, Mauntel TC, Djoko A, Dompier TP, Wikstrom EA. The Epidemiology of Lateral Ligament Complex Ankle Sprains in National Collegiate Athletic Association Sports. Am J Sports Med. 2017 Jan;45(1):201-209.</ref>
Yeung et al, 1994, in an epidemiological study of unilateral ankle sprains, reported that the dominant leg is 2.4 times more vulnerable to sprain than the non-dominant one.<ref name=":0">Yeung MS, Chan KM, So CH, Yuan WY. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1332043/pdf/brjsmed00014-0042.pdf An epidemiological survey on ankle sprain.] Br J Sports Med. 1994 Jun;28(2):112-6. </ref><ref name=":1">Roos KG, Kerr ZY, Mauntel TC, Djoko A, Dompier TP, Wikstrom EA. The Epidemiology of Lateral Ligament Complex Ankle Sprains in National Collegiate Athletic Association Sports. Am J Sports Med. 2017 Jan;45(1):201-209.</ref>


A less common mechanism of injury involves forceful eversion movement at the ankle injuring the strong deltoid ligament.  
A less common mechanism of injury involves forceful eversion movement at the ankle injuring the strong deltoid ligament.  

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Introduction[edit | edit source]

Ankle sprains are considered one of the most frequent traumatic type of injury. Yeung et al, 1994, in an epidemiological study of unilateral ankle sprains, reported that the dominant leg is 2.4 times more vulnerable to sprain than the non-dominant one.[1][2]A conservative treatment is the common approach to ankle injury. The prognosis is good, but there are factors influencing the full recovery.

  • Most of these injuries are successfully treated conservatively; however, up to 70% of patients can develop long-lasting symptoms. Therefore, understanding prognostic factors for an ankle sprain could help clinicians identify patients with poor prognosis and choose the right treatment.
  • A suggested approach will be presented in order to positively identify the factors that should warrant a more aggressive attitude in the initial conservative treatment.
  • There are some prognostic factors linked to a better recovery and outcome; nevertheless, prognostic factors for full recovery after initial ankle sprain are not consistent.

Clinically Relevant Anatomy[edit | edit source]

Of the lateral ankle ligament complex the most frequently damaged one is the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL). Their anatomical location and the mechanism of sprain injury mean that the calcaneo-fibular (CFL) and posterior talofibular ligaments (PTFL) are less likely to sustain damaging loads.

On the medial side the strong, deltoid ligament complex [posterior tibiotalar (PTTL), tibiocalcaneal (TCL), tibionavicular (TNL) and anterior tibiotalar ligaments (ATTL)] is injured with forceful "pronation and rotation movements of the hindfoot"[3]
The stabilising ligaments of the distal tibio-fibular syndesmosis are the anterior-inferior, posterior-inferior, and transverse tibio-fibular ligaments, the interosseous membrane and ligament, and the inferior transverse ligament. A syndesmotic ankle sprain occurs with combined external rotation of the leg and dorsiflexion of the ankle.

Mechanism of Injury[edit | edit source]

Predisposing Factors[edit | edit source]

Predisposing factors are the risk factors for lateral ankle sprains and they are divided into two categories:intrinsic and extrinsic.[4]



Lateral ankle sprains usually occur during a rapid shift of body center of mass over the landing or weight-bearing foot. The ankle rolls outward, whilst the foot turns inward causing the lateral ligament to stretch and tear. When a ligament tears or is overstretched its previous elasticity and resilience rarely returns. Some researchers have described situations where return to play is allowed too early, compromising sufficient ligamentous repair.[5]
Reports have proposed that the greater the level of plantar flexion the higher the likelihood of sprain[6]

Yeung et al, 1994, in an epidemiological study of unilateral ankle sprains, reported that the dominant leg is 2.4 times more vulnerable to sprain than the non-dominant one.[1][2]

A less common mechanism of injury involves forceful eversion movement at the ankle injuring the strong deltoid ligament.  

Classification Grading Systems[edit | edit source]

Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]

add text here relating to the clinical presentation of the condition

Diagnostic Procedures[edit | edit source]

add text here relating to diagnostic tests for the condition

Outcome Measures[edit | edit source]

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Algorythm to acute ankle sprain

Management[edit | edit source]

Acute Phase[edit | edit source]

Subacute Phase[edit | edit source]

Chronic Phase[edit | edit source]

add text here relating to management approaches to the condition

Resources
[edit | edit source]

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References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Yeung MS, Chan KM, So CH, Yuan WY. An epidemiological survey on ankle sprain. Br J Sports Med. 1994 Jun;28(2):112-6.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Roos KG, Kerr ZY, Mauntel TC, Djoko A, Dompier TP, Wikstrom EA. The Epidemiology of Lateral Ligament Complex Ankle Sprains in National Collegiate Athletic Association Sports. Am J Sports Med. 2017 Jan;45(1):201-209.
  3. Beynnon BD, Murphy DF, Alosa DM. Predictive Factors for Lateral Ankle Sprains: A Literature Review. J Athl Train. 2002 Dec;37(4):376-380.
  4. Ferreira JN, Vide J, Mendes D, Protásio J, Viegas R, Sousa MR. Prognostic factors in ankle sprains: a review. EFORT Open Rev. 2020 Jun 1;5(6):334-338.
  5. Hubbard TJ, Hicks-Little CA. Ankle ligament healing after an acute ankle sprain: an evidence-based approach. J Athl Train. 2008 Sep-Oct;43(5):523-9.
  6. Wright IC, Neptune RR, van den Bogert AJ, Nigg BM. The influence of foot positioning on ankle sprains. J Biomech. 2000 May;33(5):513-9.