Ankle joints: damage. Ligaments of the ankle are damaged: symptoms, treatment, consequences

Ankle joint, anatomical pointview, has the most complex structure. And this idea of ​​nature is completely amenable to a logical explanation. After all, it is this part of the leg that is assigned to a very important - supporting - function, with which the joint copes perfectly. But if everything is so good, then why is the ankle ligament injury a diagnosis, which the traumatologist most often puts to his patients?

Anatomy of the ankle

The ankle joint is formed by the talus bone andbones of the lower leg and has a block-shaped form. The angle of its mobility at extension and bending reaches 90 °. Both on the outer and inner sides it is strengthened with ligaments. Internal, which in medicine is known as deltoid or medial, connective tissue of the ankle is located from the medial malleolus towards the heel, ram and scaphoid bone. Outwardly, its shape is as close as possible to the triangle.

But as for the outer ligaments of the anklejoint, then there are three. They all come from the tibia, with two of them attached to the ram and one to the calcaneus. It is due to their location that they are called the posterior and anterior talon-fibular and heel-fibrous ligaments.

The age characteristic feature of this joint is its mobility. And in adults it is more mobile in the direction of the plantar surface, in the children - in the rear side of the foot.

Trauma ankle - is the problem of athletes or ailment that lies in wait for anyone?

Do not think that the ligament damagean ankle joint - a problem only for athletes who subject their body to great physical stress. After all, of the total number of traumatology patients diagnosed with this condition, only 15-20% were injured during training. It is simply impossible to classify the rest by age group, occupation or gender. And this is quite logical, since any person can stumble, make a sharp wrong move, turn a leg or just unsuccessfully jump off the step.

It is often enough to diagnose ligament damageankle joint and modern "women of fashion", for whom beauty is significantly higher in the list of priorities than convenience and health. They choose shoes, being guided not by the criterion of comfort and correctness of foot fixation, but by price, heel height, color or trend of fashion. Such improperly selected accessories of a women's wardrobe, suitable for a handbag, dress or eye color, often cause injury, the name of which, according to medical terminology, is a ligament injury of the ankle joint.

As for the children, they suffer from thisailment is also not so rare. After all, small fidgets are in constant movement. In addition, their joints and bone tissues have not yet fully grown, so they are easily traumatized.

Who should be careful of ankle damage?

Not always damage the ligaments of the ankleThe joint is the result of only injuries. In 20-25%, as medical practice shows, the doctors call the anatomical predisposition and chronic diseases the causes of the ailment. The most common injury of connective tissue is fixed in people with high supination, or the arch of the foot, with different lengths of limbs, as well as those who suffer from the weakness of the ligament apparatus, muscle imbalance and various neuromuscular disorders.

Therefore, everyone who is included in this category of risk should be especially careful about the choice of shoes, clearly dose the physical load on the musculoskeletal system.

First-degree ligament ruptures

Depending on the severity of the damageconnective tissue, the disease is divided into three main degrees. The first, and the easiest, include the rupture of single fibers, which does not interfere with the stability of the joint. In this case, the victim experiences pain of low intensity, which can be removed with analgesics in the form of tablets and ointments. At the site of the injury, there may be a small swelling, but there is no evidence of hyperemia.

Clinical manifestations of the second degree of trauma

If a person has a ligament injury leftankle joint (or right) of the second degree, the symptomatology will be brighter. The victim experiences a strong pain syndrome, on the skin integument weak bruises and bruises appear. Such a partial ligament rupture does not disturb the stability of the joint, but a person with trauma can hardly walk.

Symptomatic, characteristic of the third degree of damage

The third degree of injury to connectivestructures may be called the most difficult. After all, this damage to the ligaments of the right ankle joint (or the left one - not the essence) implies the complete rupture of all fibers without exception. Characteristic symptoms are acute pain of a high degree of intensity, impaired motor function, as well as instability of the joint itself. In addition, at the site of the injury, subcutaneous hemorrhages of various sizes immediately appear, to which after a while a strong puffiness is attached.

Whether it is necessary to refuse medical aid?

Despite the fact that the first two degreesinjuries of the ankle joints do not belong to the category of severe ankles and do not require specific treatment, the doctor's examination will not be superfluous. After all, pain sensations of medium intensity, swelling and hyperemia are symptoms of not only damage to connective tissues. This clinical picture is also characteristic of fractures and fractures of bone tissue, the treatment of which is better performed under the supervision of doctors. Therefore, it is so important that the expert clearly diagnose the trauma and prescribe the appropriate course of therapy.

Note also that even if a person has a partialdamage to the ligaments of the ankle, he needs professional advice - this will speed up the recovery process. Therefore, regardless of the degree of injury of connective tissue, to refuse professional medical care is not necessary.

First aid for torn ankle ligament

If the connective tissue was damageda crunch or a crack is heard, there is almost no doubt that a rupture of the bundle has occurred. In addition, in this case, any movement that the victim is attempting to perform is accompanied by acute pain, and a swelling or bruise immediately appears on the injury site. To improve the condition of the patient before he is examined by a doctor, it is necessary to provide the victim with the first aid.

First, immediately it is necessary to immobilizedamaged limb. The patient should be seated, and it is better to lay so that the ankle was above the level of the heart. This situation will allow, if there was a complete damage to the ligament of the ankle, prevent internal hemorrhage.

Secondly, in the area of ​​damage should be donecold compress, and it is better to attach pieces of ice. Then the victim is given an anesthetic drug and decides how to deliver it to the nearest trauma center. If damage to the ankle joints (symptoms described above) is accompanied by severe hyperemia, unbearable pain and extensive swelling, it is better to call an ambulance. Doctors immediately put a tire on their feet and take the patient to the hospital, where they will conduct a full diagnosis.

Treatment of ligament injury of the first degree

Trauma of this severity, as a rule, is notrequires medical treatment. The main essence of the process consists in fixing the damaged joint and taking painkillers, if any. In other words, a patient who is diagnosed with an ankle joint injury of the first degree can continue to lead a habitual lifestyle. However, doctors during the recovery period recommend, if possible, to reduce physical exertion, and apply a tight bandage to the damaged joint.

As a rule, after 10-12 days, a full recovery comes.

How is damage to the ligaments of the second degree of severity treated?

Treatment of injuries of the second degree will takemuch longer than the sprain. In addition, during this period the patient should not only limit physical activity, but also undergo a course of complex therapy, which will help to recover soon after such a violation as damage to the ligaments of the ankle joint. The consequences of the disease, with strict adherence to the recommendations of the patient's doctor, will not bother, but self-medication in such situations can bring a lot of problems, and even after several years a person can not forget about the injury.

As a rule, with partial tearing of the connectivean ankle tissue for a patient for 3 weeks impose a gypsum langete fixing the leg. For pain relief, an anesthetic is prescribed in a tablet form. It can be one of such drugs as "Nurofen", "Ibuprofen" or "Ketorol". From the third day of treatment, physiotherapeutic procedures that accelerate the healing process can be connected.

Ligament damage of the third degree: features of therapy

It should be noted that if the doctor has determined thatpatient complicated damage to the ligaments of the ankle, treatment will take at least 5-6 weeks. It should also be said that it is performed in a hospital environment, as it requires surgical intervention, in which the ruptured connective tissue is sutured, the blood is pumped out of the joint, then Novokain medication or other similar drugs are injected into its cavity.

After a leg operation for a patient for 3-5 weeksimpose a plaster and prescribe a course of drugs that have an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. From 3-4 days of treatment to complex therapy include physiotherapeutic procedures that improve blood supply in places of damage and stimulate the protective functions of the body as a whole.

Consequences of ankle injury

Talk about damage to ligamentsankle joint (the photo of the damaged sites, placed on the stands at the traumatologist's office, frighten many patients, which is understandable) is always fraught with serious complications, wrong. After all, begun on time treatment and compliance with all the prescriptions of the doctor can completely restore the connective tissue. Exceptions are those cases when patients ignore the recommendations of specialists or are treated independently, exclusively with the help of traditional medicine. The consequence of such carelessness and irresponsible attitude towards one's health is often the instability of the ankle joint. And this can cause a re-injury of connective and bone tissue.

Therefore, before treating the damage to the ligaments of the ankle joint, the patient must clearly understand that his health depends on observing medical recommendations during the period of therapy and rehabilitation.