Ankle Sprain

Ankle sprains are common injuries that usually heal with rest and home care. However, if you have a severe injury or one that’s not improving, visit board-certified orthopaedic surgeon Karl Siebuhr, MD, and Jonathan Kletter, PA-C, at Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida in Ocala, Florida. They can identify the root cause of your condition and offer comprehensive treatment to help the tissues heal successfully. Call the office today or schedule a consultation online if you need expert ankle sprain care.

What is an ankle sprain?

Ankle sprains occur when the ligaments — tough connective tissues that support your joints — stretch beyond their limits. There’s slight stretching and minute ligament fiber tearing with a grade one sprain, while a grade two sprain causes partial tearing. Grade three ankle sprains tear the ligament completely off the bone.

Without the correct treatment and rehabilitation, chronic or severe ankle sprains can weaken the joint, increasing your risk of injuring it again. If you suffer from repeated ankle sprains, you may develop long-term problems like chronic pain, arthritis, and joint instability.

Why would I sprain my ankle?

Common ways to sprain your ankle include walking or exercising on uneven surfaces, trips and falls, and participating in sports involving cutting or jumping, like basketball, football, and tennis.

Most ankle sprains are inversion injuries where the foot turns inward. This affects the lateral ligaments on the outside of your ankle. Less common is a medial ankle sprain — an eversion injury where the foot turns out, tearing the deltoid ligament on the inside of your ankle. 

Most ankle sprains heal if you rest the joint, use ice to reduce swelling, and raise the leg when possible. Over-the-counter medications reduce pain and inflammation, and basic rehabilitation exercises help you regain strength.

How is an ankle sprain treated?

If your ankle doesn’t improve after several weeks or you have difficulty bearing weight, visit Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida for an expert assessment and treatment. They use splinting and durable medical equipment (DME), such as walking boots and air cast braces, to support the ankle while it heals.

Physical therapy can be invaluable for helping ankle sprains to heal and prevent the joint from stiffening or weakening. You might also benefit from platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to encourage tissue repair and growth.

Very few ankle sprains require surgery, but it might be appropriate if your injury doesn’t respond to other treatments or you have persistent ankle instability.

Your surgeon might perform arthroscopy, using a tiny camera on a flexible pipe (arthroscope) to look inside the joint and remove loose bone or cartilage fragments. They may need to repair a torn ligament or reconstruct it using a tissue graft.

Call Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida today or book an appointment online for expert care of your ankle sprain.