J Korean Foot Ankle Soc.
2006 Dec;10(2):247-249.
Neural Injuries in Ankle Sprain
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kang-Nam St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine, Korea. itchu@hanmail.net
Abstract
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PURPOSE: The neural injuries by the sprain around the ankle joint may contribute the chronic pain. Authors analyzed the incidence and the contributing factor of the neural injuries in ankle sprain.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
52 patients (54 cases) were involved in this retrospective study. Patient with diabetes or spinal disease were excluded. Plain radiograph and MR image were evaluated. Treatments were consisted of cast immobilization for 4 weeks with weight bearing ambulation following bracing for 8 weeks. Neurologic evaluation were performed at 3 months, 6 months, 12 months post-injury period and each neural injury were confirmed by electromyography or lidocaine block test.
RESULTS
The average age was 39 years old and 34 cases were male and 20 cases were female. Rupture of the anterior talofibular ligament was observed in 48 cases, distal anterior tibiofibular ligament in 37 cases, calcaneofibular ligament in 6 cases. One cases revealed no injury of the ligament. Neural injuries around ankle was observed in 13 cases ; superficial peroneal nerve in 9 cases, sural nerve in 5 cases, saphanous nerve in 1 case. Neural injury was not influenced by the degree of ligament injuries but by the incidence numbers of ankle sprain. All cases were treated conservatively and symptom was subsided in all but 2 cases.
CONCLUSIONS
Although the incidence is relatively low, the neural injuries in ankle sprain may occur in the recurrent ankle sprain and conservative treatment for neural injuries is satisfactory.
