Dislocated Ankle - Symptoms, First Aid And Treatment

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Dislocated ankle

Ankle dislocation is a fairly common injury to the lower extremities. The risk group includes retirees, athletes, and women who prefer to wear high-heeled shoes. Doctors note that people most often turn to this problem during the cold season, when it is icy outside.

Ankle dislocation is characterized by the fact that as a result of the injury, the ligaments are damaged, and the bone is pushed out of the joint.

Content:

• Symptoms of a sprained ankle
• Dislocation of the ankle
• Ankle dislocation treatment
• First aid
• Prevention of ankle dislocation

Symptoms of a sprained ankle

Among the main symptoms of a dislocated ankle are the following:

• Painful sensations localized in the ankle area. They are constantly present, but with additional load they increase significantly;
• The appearance of edema, which forms almost immediately after injury;
• The presence of a hematoma and / or subcutaneous hemorrhage (not always);
• Violation of the shape of the joint. If the displacement has occurred in the ankle area, then the tartar bone will protrude under the skin and be perfectly palpable. When the dislocation is localized directly under the container bone, the foot becomes turned to the inner side. In this case, the calcaneus protrudes forward and is visible under the inner surface of the ankle;
• A characteristic click, which is always heard during a dislocation;
• Impaired foot mobility;
• Increased temperature in the damaged area.

Dislocation of the ankle

Depending on the intensity of the symptoms, it is customary to distinguish several degrees of dislocation of the ankle:

• Beginner or mild degree. It is characterized by the fact that only damage to the ligaments occurs without displacement of the bone. In this case, slight swelling occurs and pain of moderate intensity is felt;
• Second or medium degree. In this case, a partial rupture of the ligaments surrounding the bone occurs. The pain is intense, the swelling is pronounced, the skin around the damaged joint is hot;
• A severe degree is characterized by the fact that a complete rupture of the ligaments occurs, while the bone is pushed out of the joint, a loud click is heard. The pain is very severe, swelling and hematoma occupy a large area, it is almost impossible to step on the foot.

Ankle dislocation treatment

Before starting treatment for a dislocated ankle, it is necessary to accurately diagnose its presence and exclude the possibility of a fracture. Doing this yourself is not worth it, you need to seek medical help as soon as possible. The doctor will palpate and visually inspect the damaged area. Then the victim will be directed to an x-ray, which must be done in two projections. This will make it possible to clarify the absence of a fracture. But sometimes an X-ray does not give a complete picture, therefore, ankle arthrography may be prescribed on the first day.

After the diagnosis has been made, the ankle must be adjusted, and this must be done as quickly as possible. It is not worth trying to carry out such manipulations with the injured leg on your own. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia in a hospital setting. When the doctor sets the bone in place, he or she will apply a circular bandage to the affected ankle to restrict the movement of the foot. Plaster cast may be indicated. You will have to wear it (depending on the severity of the dislocation) from two weeks to a month.

If a person does not tolerate pain, then we can recommend him to take anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs, which allow him to muffle the pain symptom for a while. The doctor may also advise the use of special creams and ointments used for sprains and dislocations.

After three days, it is allowed to warm up, this is done by applying compresses to alcohol. An iodine mesh and gentle massage can help speed up healing.

Alternative treatments for ankle dislocation

The application of special compresses will help to improve blood circulation, and therefore to the speedy restoration of the joint.

For treatment, you can use:

• Milk. It should be heated, moistened with a cloth and applied to a sore spot, and then covered with plastic. Such heating contributes not only to the speedy recovery, but also to relieve pain.
• Chop the onion, or even better pass through a meat grinder. The resulting mass is mixed with salt and applied in the form of a compress to the sore spot. Salt will help reduce swelling, and onions, by irritating the skin, will increase blood flow to the affected joint.
• For warming up, you can also use ordinary sand, which is heated in a frying pan, and then applied to the ankle in a linen bag. Such a compress keeps warm for a long time. The procedure should be carried out for half an hour.

But before proceeding with self-medication, you need to consult with your doctor about the possibility of such procedures. And it should be remembered that it is impossible to warm the sore spot in the first three days after injury.

First aid for sprained ankle

Sometimes it is not possible to quickly consult a doctor for help. In this situation, you need to know how to help the victim yourself. In order to reduce pain, you need to apply cold to the sore spot. For this, ice wrapped in cloth is suitable. A cooling compress will also help reduce tissue swelling.

Then the joint must be fixed in one position. To do this, you can use any elastic bandage or bandage. The correct position of the foot is one in which it is at an angle of 90 ° C relative to the lower leg. If possible, the load on the affected foot should be minimized. Having completed all of the above manipulations, the person needs to be shown to a traumatologist in the near future.

Prevention of ankle dislocation

It should be borne in mind that preventive measures are especially important for those people who have already experienced an ankle dislocation once. The risk of re-damage increases several times. This is due to the stretching of the ligaments and the loss of their elasticity.

In order to prevent ankle dislocation, the following recommendations must be observed:

• Wear shoes with a fixed heel;
• Avoid shoes and sandals with high heels;
• If possible, choose shoes with a special supportive effect;
• Exercise regularly to stretch the muscles of your calves and feet. The most basic of them is rolling from toes to heels.

Of course, it will not be possible to protect yourself 100% from a sprained ankle, but it is quite possible to reduce the risks of its occurrence.

Author of the article: Kaplan Alexander Sergeevich | Orthopedist

Education: diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received in 2009 at the Medical Academy. I. M. Sechenov. In 2012 completed postgraduate studies in Traumatology and Orthopedics at the City Clinical Hospital named after Botkin at the Department of Traumatology, Orthopedics and Disaster Surgery.