The rupture of the ankle joint is often observed in athletes. As a rule, first of all, basketball players and volleyball players are at risk. But no one is insured against such a trauma. This happens during an awkward movement, especially often as a result of an unsuccessful jump. In this case, the person's foot is turned inward and unnaturally bent. As a result, a complete or partial rupture of the ligament occurs.
Types of damage
The rupture of the ankle joint may be of a different nature. There are three types of severity of this injury:
- Light form. With this variant of damage only individual fibers suffer. Such a trauma doctors are usually called stretching. However, such a term does not correspond to reality. The fibers of the ligaments do not have such elasticity that they can be stretched.
- The average weight. Here we are talking about a significant tear. Not individual fibers suffer, but a significant part of them.
- Heavy form. In this case, a complete rupture of the ankle joint is observed, and also often during the examination its detachment from the attachment site is revealed.
Symptoms of ankle injury
For all forms of damage to this joint, whether partial or complete, there are the same symptoms. But the degree of their expression is different. The person who received such a trauma will first of all complain of severe pain while walking. In a serious case, he will not be able to step on his foot. Visually, one can note the presence of a strong edema, and a bruise at the site of damage will also be clearly visible. At a palpation the expressed painful syndrome is marked. The rupture of the ligament of the ankle does not deprive the person of the ability to walk. But because of the severe pain and swelling that spreads to the anterior, as well as the outer part of the foot, it will be very difficult to perform this action.
Treatment of ankle ligament rupture
In an easy form, this trauma is healed independently. The main thing is to ensure the limbs of rest and not load it. It is quite possible to do with anesthetics. In severe cases, surgical treatment will be required. Typically, the operation may be required if there is a complete rupture of ligaments or their separation, if there is an abundant and pronounced hemorrhage in the periarticular tissues. Also, intervention of surgeons is necessary, when the trauma led to an open trauma of the joint-ligament apparatus. But this happens very rarely. The operation is appointed only after 5 weeks from the time of injury. It is not necessary to postpone it for a later period, since there is a risk of complications with incomplete recovery. The patient's condition deteriorates noticeably. If there was no timely operative intervention, then there is a possibility that the function of the joint in a person will not fully recover. The rupture of the ligaments of the ankle joint (the photo of the damage itself and the situation at which it arises, you can see in this article) is, although not frequent, but quite severe trauma. It can permanently deprive a person of the opportunity to move around normally, making a lot of inconvenience in everyday life.