What is a High Ankle Sprain?
by Amy ________, ATC
A high ankle sprain is a term used to describe a type of ankle sprain. A sprain is the stretching and/or tearing of a ligament. The ligament associated with a high ankle sprain is the syndesmosis or syndesmotic ligament. This is why the proper term for a high ankle sprain is syndesmotic sprain.
The syndesmotic ligament is a large ligament that holds the two lower leg bones together. These two bones are the tibia (shin bone) and the fibula.
This ligament is most likely torn with an increased external rotation (turned to the outside) at the ankle joint or forced dorsiflexion (the foot pointed up). This injury is more common that has been realized in the past.
Symptoms
The person with a high ankle sprain will complain of severe pain and loss of function in the ankle joint. The pain will be increased if the athlete’s lower leg is squeezed. This squeezing of the lower leg is called the squeeze test and is a classic test for determining whether someone has a high ankle sprain or not. Although, this test is not completely reliable for diagnosis. It is important to obtain x-rays from a trained professional to make a proper diagnosis.
Treatment
High ankle sprains are extremely hard to treat and generally take months to heal. Return to daily activities and sport may be delayed for a longer period of time compared to other types of ankle sprains.
An orthopedic doctor will determine whether the sprain is stable or unstable. If the sprain is stable then the high ankle sprain will be casted for about 6 weeks.
If the doctor decides that the sprain is unstable then a screw will be placed between the two lower leg bones, the tibia and fibula. The syndesmotic screw will be in place for 3 months while the syndesmotic ligament heals. No walking is allowed during those three months because of the screw could possibly break. Some doctors elect to have another surgery to remove the screw after the syndesmotic ligament has healed. While other doctors leave the screw in after the syndesmotic ligament has healed and allow the screw to break because there are few reported problems with the broken screw.
References
Cluett, J. (2005). High ankle sprain. Retrieved November 12, 2008, from About.com: Orthopedics Web site: http://orthopedics.about.com/od/sprainsstrains/a/syndesmosis.htm
Prentice, W. E. (2006). Arnheim’s principles of athletic training: A competency-based approach. New York: McGraw-Hill.
So do you feel like you learned something from reading that? Is the language too over your head? This is supposed to be in lay people terms, but I have a hard time doing that.
