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A SURGICAL SOLUTI N
Surgery for a sprained ankle? It
happens.
And it underlines the
importance of letting your doctor
evaluate an ankle injury, even
if you’re sure it’s only a sprain.
Here’s why:
You might also have a
fracture.
A sprain is a ligament
injury. That means whatever
happened to your ankle, it was
enough to overstretch or even
tear tissue. Maybe it was also
enough to break a bone.
Your ligament injury may
be severe.
Even if you’re
fracture-free, your ligaments
might need surgical repair.
You may have long-term
instability.
If an ankle sprain
isn’t treated right away, it may
not heal right. It might feel weak
and wrong during exercise, even
if you brace it well. Nonsurgical
treatment can often address this
instability, but in some cases,
surgical correction may be the
best option.
For any of the above, your
doctor will likely want to take an
in-depth look at your ankle.
Expect to have imaging tests,
such as an X-ray or MRI.
Sources: American Academy of Orthopaedic
Surgeons; American College of Foot and Ankle
Surgeons
You didn’t see the hole
until after you
stepped into it, and your foot twisted at
an ugly angle. You sprained your ankle.
FROMMILD TO SEVERE
A sprain is an injury of the ligaments,
elastic bands of tissue that hold the
bones of a joint in place.
According to Juris Simanis, M.D.,
CAQSM, RMSK, FAAFP, with
Parkview Primary Care, Sports &
Occupational Medicine Clinic in
Bolivar, ligaments are made to stretch.
“But like a rubber band, a ligament
can only stretch so far. And if your foot
lands too hard on an uneven surface or
rolls or twists, your ankle ligaments may
sprain or become partially torn.”
According to Dr. Simanis, RICE is
usually sufficient for an ankle sprain.
That’s an acronym for:
Rest.
Use crutches or other means
to stay off your ankle.
Ice.
Apply ice for 20 minutes at a
time to ease tenderness and bruising.
Compression.
Wrap your ankle
with an elastic bandage.
Elevation.
Raise your foot above your
heart for 48 hours to reduce swelling.
TAKE IT TOAN EXPERT
“RICE is a good start for treating ankle
It’s best to let a doctor decide
When is a sprain
just a sprain?
previous ankle injury have been able to
further decrease their risk of reinjury by
an additional 30 to 40 percent during
practice or competition if they wear a
lace-up ankle brace or have their ankle
taped by a trained athletic trainer.”
Untreated ankle sprains can lead to
long-term pain and instability and
potentially require surgery. So next time
you twist your ankle, let a doctor tell you
what’s wrong and how best to treat it.
Hurt your ankle? Go
to the CMHWalk-In
Clinic in Bolivar located at
2230 S. Springfield, Bolivar.
The clinic is open daily
from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
➜
sprains,” says Dr. Simanis. “However,
some ankle injuries are more serious
and may actually be classified as a high
ankle sprain, which involves different
ligaments in the ankle. It is important
to be able to distinguish a regular ankle
sprain from a high ankle sprain as not
only is the treatment different, often
requiring the patient to be placed in a
cast versus a walking boot for a period
of time, but it will also require a longer
period of recovery, which in some cases
may be up to 8 to 12 weeks.
“What is important to note is that
all ankle sprains need rehabilitation
to help recover balance, strength and
range of motion. Research regarding
ankle injuries has clearly shown that
by taking part in physical therapy to
improve strength, balance and motion,
athletes have been able to decrease
their risk of reinjury by up to 30 to
40 percent. Research has also shown
that athletes who have sustained a
ORTHOPAEDICS