Foot and ankle injuries
Injuries to the foot and ankle are very common. Ten per cent of all A&E attendances are for foot and ankle fractures and sprains. Due to its size, shape and function, the ankle receives more stress than any other joint in the body and is prone to injury.
Causes
Ankle fractures are most often caused by a twisting injury of the ankle with the ankle “rolling” inwards or outwards.
In addition, there are several bones in the foot which are prone to fracture as a result of “twisting” the ankle. The bones on the outside of the foot are particularly at risk and therefore the whole foot has to be examined thoroughly after what may appear to be a sprain.
A large proportion of foot and ankle injuries take place during sport. One large study of 12,000 sporting injuries showed that a quarter of all injuries involved the foot or ankle.
Diagnosis
Assessment must commence with a precise history of the injury. This often allows an accurate prediction of the structures likely to have been damaged. All bones, large and small joints, ligaments, tendons and peripheral nerves must be examined before imaging takes place.
All sprained feet and ankle should be X-rayed and may also require CT and MRI scanning. Sometimes small joint arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) is required to enable a foot and ankle specialist to make an accurate diagnosis.
Types of foot and ankle injuries
Summary
As there are so many structures in the foot and ankle that are at risk of being injured, it is important to seek early specialist advice. Often, the worst thing one can do with a significant “sprain” is to ignore it. With appropriate treatment, following foot and ankle injuries, it is possible to return to normal activities faster and long term problems can be prevented.
Garrick JG, Requa RK. The epidemiology of foot and ankle injuries in sports.
Clin Sports Med 1998