Ankle Sprains - Dr Bruce E Ellison MD – Offices Near Sequoia Hospital & El Camino Hospital

-
A sprained ankle is a very common injury.  Approximately 25,000 people experience ankle sprains daily.  A sprained ankle can occur with athletes and non-athletes, children and adults.  Ankle sprains may occur when participating in sports and physical fitness activities, or simply stepping on an uneven surface, or step down at an angle.
The ligaments of the ankle hold the ankle bones and joint in position.  These ligaments protect the ankle joint from abnormal movements-especially twisting, turning, and rolling of the foot.  The ligaments usually stretch within their limits, and then go back to their normal positions.  If there is a severe in-turning or out-turning of the foot relative to the ankle, the forces cause the ligaments to stretch beyond their normal length.  When a ligament is forced to stretch beyond its normal range, a sprain occurs.  A severe sprain causes actual tearing of the ligament elastic fibers.  When excessive force is applied to the ankle’s soft tissue structures, an audible “pop” may be heard with resulting pain and swelling.
The amount of force determines the grade of the sprain.  A mild sprain is a Grade I injury with slight stretching and some damage to the fibers (fibrils) of the ligament.  A grade II injury involves tearing of the ligament. If the ankle joint is examined and moved in certain ways, abnormal laxity of the ankle joint occurs.  In a grade III ankle sprain injury, complete tears of the ligament occur.  If the examiner pulls or pushes on the ankle joint in certain movements, gross instability typically occurs.  MRI may be used to confirm the diagnosis severe injury to the ligaments, and is typically used to diagnosis injury to the ankle joint surface, possible occult fracture of the ankle, or a small bone chip among other problem.
Most ankle sprains need only a period of protection to heal over approximately four weeks to six weeks.  Even complete ligament tears typically heal without surgical repair if the ankle is immobilized appropriately.  Even if an ankle has a chronic tear, it can still be highly functional because overlying tendons help with stability and motion.  Ambulation may be difficult because of the swelling and pain, and crutches may be required if walking causes pain.  Depending upon the grade of injury, the patient may be placed in a cast, removable plastic castboots or air splints.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) / Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)

-
  Complex regional pain syndrome ( CRPS ), previously referred to as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD),  is a condition resulting in burning pain, stiffness, swelling, and discoloration of the hand. CRPS includes other medical diagnoses, including causalgia, Sudeck's atrophy, and shoulder-hand syndrome.   CRPS occurs as result of abnormally overactive sympathetic nervous system that controls the blood flow and sweat glands in an extremity.   A burning pain, swelling, and warmth are felt in the affected extremity.   If not treated, CRPS can cause stiffness and a loss of use of the affected extremity.  In the worse cases, the results can be permanent The cause of CRPS is frequently unknown.  CRPS is felt to occur as the result of stimulation of sensory nerve fibers. Those regions of the body rich in nerve endings such as the fingers, hands, wrist, and ankles are most commonly affected.  Often, an injury can cause CRPS, especially when placing pr...
Read more

Dr. Bruce E. Ellison, Orthopaedic Surgeon, discusses ConFormis Bone Sparing Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement

-
Osteoarthritis of the knee is a degenerative condition affecting millions of Americans. Though often associated with the aging, osteoarthritis involves an overproduction of degradation enzymes which attack and destroyed cartilage. Healthy joints, including the knee, are covered by a layer of articular cartilage. The cartilage acts as a cushion providing for smooth gliding surface during range of motion. The articular cartilage has no nerves, and thus there is no pain with activity. However as anyone who has broken a bone knows, there are abundant nerves and pain receptors at the bone. In the knee with osteoarthritis, the cartilage wears away and becomes roughened. If the wear becomes significant, the rubbing a one rough bony surface on another can result in debilitating pain, with resulting stiffness and swelling. Nonoperative treatment options include behavior modification, drug therapies including hyaluronic acid and steroid injections, braces and electrical stimulation. Oper...
Read more

Doctor Bruce Ellison Palo Alto Calif 94305 Discusses Shoulder Arthroscopy

-
BEACH-CHAIR POSITION Dr. Ellison uses the beach chair position almost exclusively. Beach-chair position provides faster and easier patient positioning, reduces risk of neurapraxias because traction is not used. There is reduced distortion of intraarticular capsular anatomy, improved mobility of the patient's arm, and easier conversion to open surgery since repositioning and repreparation is not required. In the beach-chair position, either general anesthesia or interscalene block can be used. Interscalene block allows the patient to be awake and can assist in controlling the posotion of the head. The knees are flexed to provide counterpressure against the posterior thigh, which will reduce the tendency to slide off the table during surgery. Flexion also decreases tension on the posterior neurovascular structures of the legs. The affected shoulder is brought off the side of the table for access during the procedure. The head is supported in a neurosurgical headrest...
Read more