Sports injuries of the ankle

Abstract

The ankle is one of the most frequently injured joints in sports. Acute ligament injuries can be differentiated in lateral ligaments, medial ligaments and syndesmotic injuries. These acute injuries might lead to chronic articular injuries like anterior and posterior impingement, osteochondral defects of the talus and sinus tarsi syndrome. Acute and chronic tendon injuries can be differentiated to posteromedial injuries (flexor hallucis longus, plantaris tendon and tibial posterior tendon injuries) and posterolateral injuries of the peroneal tendons. The most frequently posteriorly located injury is however the centrally located Achilles tendon. Understanding of the anatomy, injury mechanism is essential to provide optimal clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic care.