A sprained ankle remains one of the most common of all joint injuries, occurring in an estimated 25,000 people in the United States daily, reports the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. An ankle sprain involves stretching or tearing of the ligaments that provide stability to the ankle joint. Although most ankle sprains heal without long-term consequences, complications may arise with this injury. Recognizing a complication from a sprained ankle proves the first step in implementing an appropriate treatment plan.
Functional Ankle Instability
Ankle sprains require time to heal. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that with a severe ankle sprain, several months of rehabilitation may prove necessary before returning to previous activities, especially among people who participate in athletics. Failure to give the ankle time to heal completely may lead to repeated sprains and chronic ankle pain, a condition known as functional ankle instability.
With functional ankle instability, the joint may "give way" unexpectedly, leading to further injury. Physical therapy, muscle strengthening and a period of resting the ankle may help alleviate functional ankle instability. For people who do not improve with noninvasive treatment, surgical tightening of the loose ankle ligaments may provide the best opportunity for a return to normal ankle function, notes the medical information website eOrthopod.
Accompanying Fracture
An initially undetected fracture can sometimes occur with a severe ankle sprain. The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals reports that a sprain involving rolling the ankle inward---an eversion sprain---may cause a fracture of the lower end of the fibula, the bone on the outside of the lower leg. Continued swelling and distinct pain on both sides of the ankle may point toward a possible fracture. An inability to bear weight may also suggest an accompanying ankle fracture.
Joint Dislocation
The bones of the ankle may dislocate with a severe ankle sprain, report Dr. Mehmet Uyar and colleagues in a 2004 article published in the "British Journal of Sports Medicine." Although ankle dislocation proves uncommon in the absence of an associated fracture, people with a previous history of ankle sprains may have an increased risk for this complication.
Arthritis
The development of ankle arthritis is a potential long-term complication of a moderate-to-severe ankle sprain, reports the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society. This form of arthritis, known as post-traumatic arthritis, may develop despite appropriate treatment and normal healing of the injury. The development of post-traumatic ankle arthritis may not occur until many years after the initial injury.
References
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Sprained Ankle
- EOrthopod: Ankle Sprain and Instability
- The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Sprains, Strains and Tendon Tears: Ankle Sprains
- "British Journal of Sports Medicine"; Closed Posteromedial Dislocation of the Tibiotalar Joint Without Fracture in a Basketball Player; Mehmet Uyar, M.D., et al.; 2004
- American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society: Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle
