clinical features
Last reviewed 01/2018
The features of ankle ligament injury are:
- partially torn ligament - ankle sprain: ankle is swollen. There is slight bruising that usually appears 1-2 days after the injury. Passive inversion is painful but excessive inversion is not possible.
- completely torn ligament: the ankle is swollen. There may be severe bruising that appears at the time of the injury. Passive inversion is painful but the joint may allow excessive inversion - pain permitting.
An x-ray of both ankles inverted, if necessary, using local or general anaesthesia and applying force, will show whether the talus tilts unduly.