5 Common Ankle Injuries
What Are the Most Common Ankle Injuries?
Ankle injuries are regular occurrences in some of our most popular sports. The ankle often absorbs a high level of force. Landing in an unnatural position or landing suddenly can put excessive strain on the ankle joint. Contact sport athletes as well as skiers, hikers, and runners are all at risk for ankle injuries.
5 Common Ankle Injuries
Ankle injuries can happen to anyone. In the United States alone, about one million people every year visit urgent care with an ankle injury. These aren’t just athletes or weekend warriors. Anyone can injure their ankle by slipping, tripping, or just walking down the driveway.
At Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery, Dr. Elton and his team treat everything from sprains to fractures. However, there are always a few common ankle injuries that consistently appear throughout the year.
Five of the more common ankle injuries Dr. Elton treats include:
Inversion Ankle Sprain: About 90% of all ankle sprains are inversion sprains. This occurs when the ankle rolls inward, stretching the ligaments in the ankle joint.
Eversion Ankle Sprain: During an eversion sprain, the deltoid and medial ankle ligaments are stretched as the ankle unnaturally twists outward.
High Ankle Sprain: The syndesmosis ligaments are located above the ankle joint. These ligaments act as shock absorbers, helping protect the fibula and tibia and keeping them from spreading too far. A sudden twisting motion that causes the foot to turn outwards can traumatize those ligaments, causing what’s known as a high ankle sprain.
Ankle Dislocations: Like all dislocations, an ankle dislocation occurs when the ligaments that hold your ankle joint in place tear - causing the bones in your ankle to separate. This is a severe injury that often requires surgical intervention.
Ankle Fractures: With an ankle fracture, you break the bones in the ankle joint. The severity of this injury varies. Major ankle fractures need surgery. In other instances, the fracture is tiny enough to be healed through conservative methods.
It’s important to note that these injuries are similarly caused by twisting or cutting motions. Additional, because the symptoms of ankle injuries are similar, it’s easy to mistake a sprain for a fracture. That’s why all ankle injuries should be evaluated and treated by an orthopaedic physician - even if you feel you can “walk through the pain.”
How to Diagnose an Ankle Injury
Ankle injury symptoms should always be seen by an orthopaedic ankle physician for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Ankle injuries can cause:
Pain
Swelling
Bruising
Difficulty bearing weight
Dr. Elton always starts his diagnosis with a conversation. He will ask what you were doing while the injury occurred and your medical history (ie: “Is this the first time you’ve injured this ankle?”).
A physical examination will help Dr. Elton evaluate the extent of the swelling, pain, and impacted range of motion. Imaging tests may also be necessary to diagnose any issues with the ankle joint and/or ligaments.
Recovery from an ankle injury will depend on the severity of the injury. Mild sprains can be treated conservatively and typically take anywhere from a few weeks to a month to heal. Recovering from an ankle fracture or dislocation that requires surgery can take up to four months.
Who Can Treat My Ankle Injury?
If you’re suffering from an ankle injury in Eagle or Summit County, look no further than Dr. Elton at Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery. He and his team will diagnose your ankle injury and work with you to design the recovery plan that’s best for you.
Contact Team Elton and request a consultation today! Call (970) 476-7220 to schedule your appointment.