Acute ankle ligament sprain

Ankle ligament injury is divided into two categories: partial rupture and complete rupture, the former is called sprain or twisting of the ankle joint, the latter can be dislocated or subluxation of the ankle joint. When the deltoid ligament, all the ligaments of the lower tibiofibular ligaments or part of the interosseous membrane are injured at the same time, the separation of the lower tibiofibular ligaments and dislocation of the talus to the outside can occur. Clinically, injuries to the anterior peroneal talofibular ligament and the anterior tibiofibular ligament of the lower tibia are most common, and injuries to the deltoid ligament are often combined with ankle fracture and dislocation. Most of them have a clear history of trauma. Clinically, patients may be found to have swelling and pain below the anterior aspect of the ankle, localized tenderness, subcutaneous ecchymosis, limited joint movement and claudication. The pain is exacerbated by passive plantarflexion and inversion of the foot, and reduced by dorsiflexion and pronation. When the ankle joint is in plantarflexion position when it is completely ruptured, the talus can be displaced forward. In addition to pain, swelling, subcutaneous bruising, bruising, and restriction of foot movement in the lower ankle region, the ankle canal behind the inner ankle can be swollen and bruised; the symptoms of injury to the lower tibiofibular ligament are similar to those mentioned above, but the pain and swelling are in the anterior part of the ankle joint rather than in the lateral part of the ankle joint. There is obvious localized pressure and pain at the ligament below the ankle, and it is more limited, which is easy to be distinguished from ankle fracture; the pressure and pain of inner ankle ligament injury is mostly at the attachment place of deltoid ligament in the lower part of the inner ankle; and the pressure and pain of injury of lower tibiofibular ligament is in the front of the ankle joint. Passive inversion of the foot injured ligament is pulled and the pain is aggravated, forcibly inversion of the foot, the outer ankle ligament rupture indentation increased; inner ankle ligament injury, forcibly inversion of the foot pain is aggravated and there may be a ligament rupture indentation, fixation of calf before and after the promotion of the heel can be the phenomenon of medial range of motion; lower tibiofibular ligament injury, hold the heel for the talus lateral or rotational movement, can be found that the talus range of motion is increased. (1) Incomplete rupture of lateral ankle ligament In addition to general treatment such as early local cold compresses, the affected foot should be strictly braked to facilitate the repair of the ligament. (1) Incomplete injury of anterior peroneal talofibular ligament. Fixed with calf cast in valgus and dorsiflexion position for 3~4 weeks, after removing the cast, use ankle braking and functional exercise. Incomplete rupture of the peroneal heel ligament. Functional position of ankle joint (90°~100°), with external turning calf immobilized in plaster for about 4 weeks, and subsequent treatment as before. (iii) Incomplete injury of the posterior peroneal talofibular ligament, the calf should be immobilized with calf cast in external rotation and plantarflexion position for about 4~5 weeks. (2) Simple incomplete injury of the deltoid ligament in internal ankle ligament injury. Generally, it is immobilized with calf plaster in the inversion position for 4~5 weeks. Mild cases can also be immobilized with wide adhesive tape in the inverted position for 3 weeks, and then physiotherapy and ankle protection can be applied after the immobilization. (3) Simple lower tibiofibular ligament injury: Use calf cast, and apply pressure on both sides of the ankle joint (apply pressure with palms of hands bilaterally) in order to reset it. Replace the external ankle guard after 4~6 weeks of immobilization. Surgical treatment (1) Complete rupture of external ankle ligaments Except for those who cannot perform surgery due to poor general condition, ligament repair should be performed in principle. For advanced cases with repair difficulties, nearby reconstruction of the damaged ligament is needed. (2) Complete rupture of the deltoid ligament complicating fracture Repair of the ruptured ligament, open reduction + internal fixation can be performed simultaneously for displaced fractures. (3) Rupture of the deltoid ligament complicated by separation of the lower tibiofibular joint (most often accompanied by a fracture of the lateral ankle) At the same time as the operation, the lower tibiofibular joint is fixed with a long screw, and the time of fixation is usually not more than 6 weeks. (4) Lower tibiofibular ligament injury with displaced fracture, while open reduction and internal fixation of the fracture are performed, long screws are often used for compression fixation and reduction, and postoperative cast braking is performed for 6-8 weeks, and the time of cast removal is decided according to the fracture healing condition.