Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about the course of the accident as part of the medical history. In order to be able to narrow down the nature of the injury, he will examine the patient and ask about the pain. During the physical examination, he will feel his way from the knee down to the ankle joint.
The head of the fibula is often palpated at the knee, as this is at risk of being torn off if the malleoli are fractured. At the ankle itself, he will palpate the lateral ligaments and test for sensitivity to pressure and movement. To do this, the doctor will test the extent to which he can still move the foot in all directions.
In doing so, he naturally takes the patient’s pain data into account. The doctor can then request a conventional X-ray image of the sprained foot. With this X-ray image, he can assess the bony structures and rule out a fracture.
Using magnetic resonance imaging, the ligaments and other soft tissue structures in the vicinity of the sprained ankle can be examined more closely. The procedures used by the doctor to make a diagnosis usually depend on the course of the accident and the information about the patient’s pain. Therapy is then initiated accordingly.
Which doctor will treat this?
With a sprained ankle, it is possible to see a family doctor first, but the doctor will probably refer the person concerned to an orthopaedic specialist, ideally a sports orthopaedist. Both orthopedics and physiotherapy then play a role in the treatment team. Since medical laymen cannot distinguish a simple overstretch from a torn ligament, a doctor should always be consulted. This is especially true if after one week no full body weight load is possible.
Sprained ankle of a child
Children play and romp around and if the first run is not quite safe yet, children can quickly bend over and pull a sprain on their ankle. When children fall down, they get scared very quickly and often do not even understand what happened. Often it is best to calm the children down and explain what happened to them.
If the child cries continuously and already reports exact pain in the foot, it may be a sprained ankle. In this case, parents should explain to the child that he or she should keep the leg still. Since it is often difficult for parents to find out what the pain in children means, they should consult a doctor for clarification to rule out a more serious injury.
Until then, the foot can be observed and, as a precaution, cooled. The Cool-Packs should always be wrapped in a protective towel to prevent frostbite of the skin. The possibly sprained foot of the child should be immobilized and placed high up to prevent swelling.
If after some time a swelling appears, this can already be an indication of a sprain at the ankle. The child will be examined by a doctor. Since children are often afraid of doctors and do not always give an answer to questions, it is helpful for the doctor if a parent is present during the examination.
Last but not least, the child feels more comfortable and the mother or father can also reassure the child.When the doctor finally diagnoses a sprain in the ankle, it may be necessary to immobilize the foot. A bandage or bandage may be sufficient to support the foot. Children are often able to judge for themselves whether or not they can put weight on the foot without pain.
In addition, cooling pain-relieving ointments suitable for children can be applied daily to the sprained ankle. For more serious injuries, a splint may sometimes be necessary. As a rule, children absorb the accident very well and they also tolerate the examination and treatment of the ankle very well.
They often recover from such an injury much faster than adults and can put weight on the foot again more quickly. To prevent such injuries, children should always wear suitable and sturdy shoes. Shoes that extend beyond the ankle offer good support, especially when running and playing, as well as when walking unsteadily.
