What structures are damaged in a sprained ankle?

An ankle sprain is usually that of an inversion-type twist of the foot, followed by pain and swelling. The most commonly injured site is the lateral ankle complex, which is composed of the anterior talofibular, calcaneofibular, and posterior talofibular ligaments.

What structure is sprained in a high ankle sprain ‘?

A syndesmotic sprain or high ankle sprain is an injury to the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis with possible disruption of the distal tibiofibular ligaments and interosseous membrane. Syndesmosis ruptures are also associated with specific types of ankle fractures.

What anatomical structures are most affected by a sprain as opposed to a strain?

The most common location for a sprain is the ankle joint. A joint strain is the overstretching or tearing of muscles or tendons. Tendons are the dense fibrous cords of tissue that connect bones to muscles. The most common locations for a muscle strain are the hamstring muscle and the lower back.

What ligaments are damaged in an ankle sprain?

Anatomy of an ankle sprain The most common type of ankle sprain is an inversion injury, or lateral ankle sprain. The foot rolls inward, damaging the ligaments of the outer ankle — the anterior talofibular ligament, the calcaneofibular ligament, and the posterior talofibular ligament.

What happens to your ligaments when you sprain your ankle?

A sprained ankle is the stretching or tearing of ankle ligaments, which support the joint by connecting bones to each other. A sprain occurs when your ankle is forced to move out of its normal position, which can cause one or more of the ankle’s ligaments to stretch, partially tear or tear completely.

Does a sprained ankle have long-term effects?

Improperly managed ankle sprains are believed to contribute to long-term complications, including chronic instability or arthritis in the ankle joint.

Can a sprained ankle ever fully recover?

They can take longer to heal and sometimes require longer than three months to resolve with treatments like splinting, wearing a boot or a walking cast, and physical therapy. With the proper treatment, however, your high ankle sprain can heal completely.

How does a syndesmosis sprain differ from a lateral ankle sprain?

Syndesmotic sprains, or high ankle sprains, take up about 10-32\% of all ankle sprains. This statistic is higher in the athletic population. While lateral ankle sprains occur when the ankle is inverted, high ankle sprains typically involve an additional rotation of the foot or leg.

How is a sprain different from a strain?

The difference between a sprain and a strain is that a sprain injures the bands of tissue that connect two bones together, while a strain involves an injury to a muscle or to the band of tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone.

How to do an anatomy of an ankle sprain?

Anatomy of an Ankle Sprain 1 Description. Ligaments are strong, fibrous tissues that connect bones to other bones. 2 Doctor Examination. Your doctor will diagnose your ankle sprain by performing a careful examination of your foot and ankle. 3 Grades of Ankle Sprains. 4 Treatment. 5 Outcomes. 6 Prevention.

What are the long-term effects of repeated ankle sprains?

Repeated ankle sprains can lead to long-term problems, including chronic ankle pain, arthritis, and ongoing instability. Ligaments are strong, fibrous tissues that connect bones to other bones. The ligaments in the ankle help to keep the bones in proper position and stabilize the joint.

What is an inversion ankle sprain?

Ankle sprains are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries. Patients typically describe an episode where they “roll their ankle” to one side (often inward, a so called “inversion” sprain (Figure 1) and thereby tear the ligaments on the outside (lateral) ankle.

What ligament is injured in a high ankle sprain?

The anterior inferior tibio-fibular ligament is the one injured in a so-called “high ankle sprain.” This ligament is positioned on the anterolateral aspect of the ankle and helps stabilize the mortise (Figure 5). Injuries to this ligament occur when the foot is stuck on the ground and rotates externally.