Ankle-ligament injury

Early – after the injury

• pain on the lateral side of the ankle joint
• swelling
• bruising
• inability to fully bear weight on the limb
• limited movement in the ankle joint

Late

• chronic pain
• joint instability

• The basis of the diagnosis is an orthopaedic examination
• X-rays
• Ultrasound is helpful
• Sometimes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is necessary

• Immediately after the injury, the same management as for an ankle sprain is used; it can be found here
• Once acute pain has subsided, rehabilitation begins – physiotherapy and physical therapy
• Depending on the extent of ligament damage, returning to sports takes 3 to 8 weeks
• Conservative treatment is highly effective even for complete ruptures of the ankle ligaments
• If, 8 weeks after the injury, the patient complains of a feeling of foot instability caused by the loss of function of the damaged ankle ligaments, surgical treatment is required 

• At our hospital, arthroscopic procedures and open reconstruction of damaged ankle ligaments are performed
• after the procedure, the limb is immobilized in a below-knee plaster cast
• the patient walks with the support of elbow crutches
• an anticoagulant (low-molecular-weight heparin) must be used throughout immobilization, together with pain-relieving and anti-swelling medication
• A very important part of treatment is postoperative rehabilitation – every patient receives an individual exercise programme