All you need to know about
Ankle sprain
Why do you, as a patient or future surgeon, need to be informed? It’s about you and your foot.
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You are the principal actor of your surgery
You will be the only one present from the beginning to the end of the care process, from A to Z and beyond that, you’ll have to live with it. In other words, you need to be part of the project, part of the surgical team. To feel at ease within this team, it’s essential to inform you and give you the keys to communicating as well as possible with the caregivers.
Understanding ankle sprains
The ankle is where the talus, tibia, calcaneus and fibula articulate.
What are the signs of an ankle sprain?
Your ankle has been twisted, and there are certain clinical signs to help you decide what to do and how serious the sprain is.
First situation: Your ankle shows the following signs of severity: Immediate swelling (oedema), a haematoma has appeared around the malleoli, you’ve heard a cracking sound, you can’t put your foot down.
You should then immediately consult a traumatology emergency department for an X-ray to rule out a fracture as a first step.
Second situation: you don’t have these signs and your ankles are only slightly swollen and/or painful.
These so-called benign sprains, which weaken your ligaments, should not be overlooked. We recommend that you see a sports doctor for an examination.
What should be done urgently after the accident?
After the accident, raise the foot above the hip. Ice regularly, for a maximum of 15 minutes.
What are the consequences of an untreated sprain?
The main consequence of an untreated sprain is ankle instability, i.e. a sensation of the ankle “loosening”, “twisting” or “dislocating”, frequently in everyday circumstances. The result is damage to the cartilage, and even irreversible destruction of the cartilage over time: this is osteoarthritis.
This arthrosis is accompanied by lameness and pain that can sometimes be incapacitating. Poorly-treated sprains can also lead to chronic pain due to micro-instability, as the anterior fascicle fails to heal.
Will I be able to walk after the operation?
Support depends on the surgical technique. In arthroscopy, support is immediate. In open surgery, support is partial then total, but movement is possible depending on your fatigue and post-operative tolerance.
Good to know: due to the effect of gravity, blood “falls” towards the foot (sloping area), but rises in the calf when the foot is supported. Compression of the foot on the ground causes blood to flow back up into the calf (known as a venous sole). The calf muscles then take over, pumping the blood back to the heart (muscular pump).
Surgery disrupts this system, and if you keep your foot in a sloping position for too long, it swells, bruises and hurts your ankle!
To avoid this, keep your feet and lower limbs elevated throughout your immobilization, i.e. feet above the knee, above the hip, above the heart. Don’t sit with your legs dangling or stand still.
Good to know: this also applies to sleeping! Put a (stiffer) sofa cushion on the foot under the mattress.
