Ankle Ligament Injuries
ASK THE EXPERT
in Teenagers & Adults By Dr. John Goodner, D.P.M
T
he ankle is a complex joint consisting of bones, ligaments, cartilage, tendons and joint lining. The primary motion of the ankle is up and down. It has limited sideto-side motion. When excess motion occurs from side to side, ankle ligaments can tear. Ligaments connect bones together. Once the ligaments are torn instability can develop. On the outside of the ankle there are three ligaments. The inside of the ankle has five and connecting the tibia and fibula are three more. Ankle ligament injuries can occur from stepping off of a step and rolling the ankle, to playing sports and coming down and landing on somebody’s foot. It is also very common in women who wear heels and roll their ankle to the outside, causing damage to the ligament structure of the ankle. When ligament injuries occur, it is most often associated with a feeling of a crack or a pop, and is associated with pain, swelling, occasionally discoloration and inability to weightbear. It is always best to evaluate these ankle injuries as soon as possible. A thorough history and physical will allow the doctor to identify the ligaments that have been injured and the extent of the injury. X-rays are taken and occasionally MRIs if the suspected damage is significant. Treatment is then aimed at reducing the damage to the ligaments
and giving the ligaments an opportunity to heal primarily. Treatment for these injuries could be as simple as RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation). For a very simple stretching injury to the ankle ligaments, an ankle brace is used most often. When the ligaments are torn, then immobilization is absolutely necessary. A boot or a cast is applied for two to six weeks. Patients are allowed to immediately weightbear. Cross training is completely allowed. Avoid any type of anti-inflammatory. This will help to reduce the inflammation but at the cost of allowing those ligaments to heal because inflammation is a critical part of the healing process. Physical therapy may be necessary after cast removal. A return to sports could take four to eight weeks. Chronic instability may develop if treatm e n t h a s n o t b e e n i n i t i a te d i m m e d i ately. This may be corrected with a ligament tightening procedure. Long-term prognosis is almost always excellent. ■ Dr. John Goodner is a Board Certified Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Surgeon with the Foot, Ankle and Leg Specialists of South Florida and specializes in sports medicine foot and ankle injuries, foot and ankle arthroscopy, lower extremity trauma, and lower extremity deformities in infants, children, teens and adults. The South Florida Institute of Sports Medicine in Plantation is located at 17842 NW 2nd St Pembroke Pines, FL 33029-2806 Tel: (954) 430-9901 The practice website is www. SOUTHFLORIDASPORTSMEDICINE.com. Instagram @SouthFloridaSportsMedicine. Twitter @SFLSportsMed.
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South Florida Institute of Sports Medicine
FOOT, ANKLE, & LEG SPECIALISTS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
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SERVING OUR PATIENTS FOR OVER 30 YEARS Dr. Warren Windram, D.P.M.
Board Qualified FOOT, ANKLE, & LEG SPECIALIST
Dr. John Goodner, D.P.M.
Board Qualified FOOT, ANKLE, & LEG SPECIALIST
Dr. Robert Sheinberg, D.P.M. - In Loving Memory -
Dr. Carlo Messina, D.P.M.
Board Certified FOOT, ANKLE, & LEG SPECIALIST
WESTON
PEMBROKE PINES
954-389-5900
954-430-9901
1600 Town Center Blvd.
17842 NW 2nd St.
Dr. Michael Cohen, D.P.M.
Board Certified FOOT, ANKLE, & LEG SPECIALIST
PLANTATION
220 S.W. 84th Ave., #102
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SELF PAY RATES (Procedure cost is in addition to office visit.) New Patient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $200 Surgery Consult . . . . . . . . . . . $200 Injections . . . . . . . . . .$75 per shot Casts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$175 Follow Up Visit . . . . . . . . $50-$100 Orthotics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $350 Ingrown Nail . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$125 X-Rays . . . . . . . . . . . . $50 per area PRP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$600 Shockwave (3 sessions) . . . . $500 Laceration Repair . . . . . . . . . $250 Wound Care . . . . . . . . . . .$75-$125 (FOR CHRONIC HEEL PAIN & TENDONITIS)
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32 / April 2021 / OurCityMedia.com
Dr. Fernando Moya, M.D. Board Certified SHOULDER & KNEE SPECIALIST
Dr. David Shenassa, M.D. Board Qualified HAND & WRIST SURGEON
Dr. Alexander Bertot, M.D. Board Certified SPORTS MEDICINE SPECIALIST
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