Physical Examination of Ankle Sprain and Ankle Instability: Can We Really Divide It into Low and High Ankle Sprains?

Abstract

Lateral ankle ligament sprains and syndesmotic injuries are two different entities. However, they may be combined under the same spectrum depending on the arch of violence during the injury. Currently, the clinical examination has a limited value in the differential diagnosis between an acute anterior talofibular ligament rupture and a syndesmotic high ankle sprain. However, its use is indispensable for raising a high index of suspicion for detecting these injuries. Based on the mechanism of injury, clinical examination plays an essential role in guiding further imaging and early diagnosis of low/high ankle instability.

Keywords: Ankle instability; Ankle sprain; Anterior drawer test; Clinical test; Football soccer; Physical examination; Squeeze test; Syndesmosis injury.