Treatment of the Ankle Temecula Sports Medicine

Ankle sprains are fairly common while playing sports, and can also happen during everyday life (such as stepping off of a curb slightly wrong). At our Temecula sports medicine clinic, we see many patients with various types of ankle sprains. Not every ankle sprain requires surgery, although there are some patients who benefit from surgical treatment of the ankle.

Ankle Sprain Temecula Sports Medicine

An ankle sprain occurs when ligaments in the ankle are damaged. This can range from slight damage to completely torn ligaments. In most cases, the damaged ligaments are on the outer part of the ankle, because the injury occurs when the foot rolls inward too far. This direction of injury is by far the most common type of ankle sprain, because the structures of the bones in the ankle and foot make this event more likely to occur.

A mild ankle sprain may not require any treatment beyond rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medications. Physical therapy can also be helpful. Surgical treatment is used for severe injuries, in which there is damage to cartilage or other structures of the ankle.

When the injury doesn’t heal well, there may be chronic instability of the ankle resulting from weakness of the poorly healed ligaments. In these cases, surgery can help to restore stability to the ankle and prevent future injuries.

High Ankle Sprain Temecula Sports Medicine

Although the ligaments on the outside of the ankle are the most commonly injured, there are also other ligaments in the ankle. Many different ligaments connect the two bones of the lower leg, the tibia and the fibula. It’s important that the connection between these two bones remains strong, because they experience a great deal of force during walking and running. When the ligaments between the tibia and the fibula are damaged, this is referred to as a high ankle sprain.

In general, it takes much longer to heal from a high ankle sprain than it does from another type of ankle sprain. Most athletes will spend at least six weeks out of play. If there is an increased separation between the tibia and the fibula, or if there are any bone fractures, then surgery is often used to stabilize these structures with the newest technology available in sports medicine. One example is the knotless tightrope device that can stabilize the bones, and facilitate an earlier recovery. This device does not require removal in the future, therefore sparing the athlete from a second surgery. At your appointment at our Murrieta sports medicine clinic, Dr. Erwteman will advise you on whether or not you would likely benefit from surgical treatment of your high ankle sprain.

Murrieta Office

25150 Hancock Ave, Suite 200
Murrieta, CA 92562
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