What are the sequelae of ankle sprain?

Ankle sprains are very common during sports or among the elderly. Therefore, many people are concerned about the sequelae of ankle sprains, fearing that the sequelae of ankle sprains will affect people's normal walking and physical health. For this reason, we will introduce the sequelae of ankle sprains so that everyone can have an idea and try to prevent the occurrence of these sequelae.

1. Semilunar bodies

The semilunar body is a small nodule of the anterior talofibular ligament. This synovial capsular ligament is impinged between the lateral malleolus and the talus, causing a 2nd or 3rd degree injury to the ligament, resulting in persistent synovitis, sometimes with fibrotic swelling and permanent induration. Immobilization is not helpful at this time, and injection of a mixture of insoluble and soluble corticosteroids and a local anesthetic between the talus and the lateral malleolus can result in marked and lasting improvement, rarely requiring surgery. Dorsal median cutaneous nerve This neuralgia is the sensory branch of the superficial peroneal nerve, crosses the anterior talofibular ligament, and is often damaged by ankle inversion sprains. Blocked local anesthesia is often an effective treatment.

2. Peroneal tenosynovitis

Chronic swelling below the lateral malleolus caused by peroneal tenosynovitis is the result of chronic eversion of the talar joint to compensate for painful sprain caused by ankle inversion during walking. In some cases, dislocation of the peroneal tendons from a severe ankle sprain can also cause swelling and tenderness.

3. Sudeck post-traumatic reflex atrophy

Painful swelling of the foot with patchy osteoporosis may result from vasospasm secondary to an ankle sprain. It needs to be differentiated from edema caused by ligament injury. Sudeck's atrophy is characterized by pain that is out of proportion to the clinical findings. Multiple tender points that move from one site to another, migrate erratically, and changes in skin moisture or color are characteristic findings.

4. Sinus tarsi syndrome

Sinus tarsi syndrome refers to persistent pain in the sinus tarsi after an ankle sprain. The pathogenesis is unclear and may be due to partial rupture of the talocervical interosseous ligament or the main trunk of the inferior cruciate ligament. The normal sinus tarsi is tender, so check both ankles for comparison. Persistent pain over the anterior talofibular joint mortise is often misdiagnosed as a sinus tarsal tumor because of tenderness over the anterior talofibular ligament close to the sinus tarsi.

After reading about the sequelae of ankle sprains, you can know that if you do not pay enough attention to the sprain, it is likely to cause these sequelae of ankle sprains and affect your personal health. As the old saying goes, it takes a hundred days to heal a broken bone. Don’t be impatient to avoid treatment or delay treatment after a sprain. After all, if sequelae are left behind, they may be a lifelong problem.