Most people currently lead a sedentary lifestyle. The average person spends most of his time at a computer or television. Accordingly, the muscles and ligaments of the musculoskeletal system weaken. Dislocation of the ankle due to exceeding the permissible loads is one of the most common injuries. It is worth noting that often this kind of damage is found in athletes. Especially dangerous are the following types of physical activity: athletics, running, skiing, etc. There is a high load on the foot, which can lead to a fracture. Ankle dislocation can occur in any person. After all, it’s quite simply wrong to step on the foot, for example, due to the uneven surface of the road. Traumatologists note that negligence is one of the main causes of damage.
Terminology
To begin, consider the structure of the joint from an anatomical point of view. It is worth noting immediately that it is quite complicated. The ankle consists of small and large tibia, as well as talus, covered with dense tissue. Hyaline cartilage in this case acts as a shock absorber. In the process of movement, friction occurs, which negatively affects the strength of the joint. However, the synovial fluid present there softens the process due to its viscous consistency.
The strength of the ankle is provided by the muscles and ligaments that are located around. If a person loses his tone and the process of weakening of the body begins, the muscles can not help, and the joint, in turn, becomes quite fragile. As a result of the influence of additional external factors, a displacement occurs, which in medicine is called an ankle dislocation. Most often, this injury is accompanied by problems with ligaments: rupture or sprain.
What causes injury?
In fact, the causes of this damage are many. You need to understand that dislocation happens with sudden movements of the lower leg, turning the legs in or out, rapid braking with the fingers on the floor, etc. Particular attention should be paid to turning the joint, because this can happen to everyone. Walking along the street or indoors you need to be careful, monitor the situation around and do not run headlong. If the joint is still damaged, then the dislocation of the case, most likely, will not end. Often in such situations, a fracture was detected.
Consider several standard cases of dislocation, ankle sprain:
- careless walking, running on ice or on an uneven surface;
- women need to be careful when wearing heels, because quite often traumatologists record an injury due to a fall;
- injuries while performing physical exercises;
- hit of a heavy object, jump with an unsuccessful landing.
The main reasons still lie in physiology, but damage can occur due to other reasons. There is a group of diseases whose development has a negative effect on the strength of ligaments and tissue density. Oncology, tuberculosis, obesity, diabetes mellitus, inflammation significantly increase the risk of ankle injury.
Severity of damage
What to do with an ankle dislocation? First of all, you need to contact a traumatologist as quickly as possible. To begin with, the doctor will determine the severity of the damage, and then offer treatment.
In medicine, there are currently three stages of damage:
- The first degree of dislocation. It is characterized by a tear of a small number of fibers, pain is felt when trying to take a step or lean on the foot. However, the movements are preserved in full, despite the swelling of the joint. If you have such damage, most likely, after a few days it will go away on its own.
- The second degree of dislocation. Almost half of the bond fibers are broken, which leads to serious difficulty in movement. Edema is detected that spreads to the side of the leg.
- The third degree of dislocation. A complete rupture of the ligament is observed, movements become impossible due to pain and severe swelling. The latter already covers the entire foot, both from the back and from the plantar.
Symptoms of ankle dislocation
Depending on the severity of the injury, certain signs appear. Of course, in the presence of a third degree, all symptoms are more pronounced and very noticeable. The second stage of the lesion is characterized by an average manifestation of symptoms, and the first - by minor violations.
It must be remembered that the mechanism of the appearance of an ankle dislocation is directly related to a component of traumatic origin. Its basis is improper distribution during walking and running. In some cases, this type of damage occurs due to a direct hit on the ankle.
So, the following symptoms of ankle dislocation are distinguished:
- Painful sensations. Troubles appear immediately after the injury, the pain is very pronounced in the area of the damaged ankle, there is a burning sensation. Attempts to move the ankle bring only more severe pain, palpation is also unpleasant for the patient.
- Swelling. The leg swells almost immediately after a dislocation, as periarticular vessels rupture and a hematoma forms. Swelling spreads quite quickly. If the injury is serious, then inflammation covers the entire foot.
- Changing the ankle. External deformation is one of the most reliable signs. It looks like a curvature of the lower part of the foot due to bending to the side. Believe me, it is difficult to confuse with other injuries.
Diagnostics
Before talking about how to treat ankle dislocation, it is necessary to understand the diagnostic methods. An experienced, qualified person can determine the damage by the indicated symptoms. In addition, a visual assessment of a professional will help confirm the assumption of injury, because the foot will have an appropriate position. Often it bends backward or sideways, sometimes there is an extension upward or inward. One sign of dislocation will be a click in the joint after injury. All these factors are often not enough to accurately determine the diagnosis. In most cases, a more detailed examination is necessary.
If we talk about the most effective diagnostic methods, it is impossible not to distinguish x-ray examination. Dislocation of the ankle is clearly visible in the picture even with the naked eye. Using this method, a qualified doctor will be able to determine the degree of damage to the ligaments and associated injuries, such as a bruised foot. Also quite often use computed tomography, which will remove all questions about the presence of dislocation.
First aid
This injury is one that requires immediate assistance. If you or someone close has got a dislocation, you must immediately take action. Inaction and waiting for the arrival of an ambulance is absolutely inappropriate here, because not only the patient's further condition, but also the risk of complications depends on emergency care.
It is worth noting that first aid measures are not complicated, you do not need to have special knowledge and skills. Anyone without preparation will be able to perform these simple steps:
- the main thing is to ensure the complete absence of movement of the injured leg, and for this you need to lay the patient and put a roller or other object under the lower limb;
- you need to relieve pain, for this you should put cold in the place of injury or take painkillers;
- Now you need to do your best to deliver the patient to a medical facility, there is already a doctor to determine the severity and prescribe the optimal treatment.
Drug therapy
It is worth noting that such treatment for ankle dislocation is not the most effective, but as a supplement is quite suitable. Most often, the doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs. If these drugs are already ineffective, experts prescribe strong analgesics, such as tramadol. Medicines are used only in case of too painful damage, when the victim is hospitalized.
If the patient has a subluxation or a slight rupture of ligaments, local therapy can be dispensed with. Here we are talking about ointments with dislocation of the ankle. The most popular and at the same time effective are Nise-Gel and Voltaren Emulgel. These drugs contain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory substances.
Conservative treatment
Treatment measures must be taken within twelve hours of the injury. It must be said that the faster the reduction is performed and the necessary assistance is provided, the easier the patient will undergo rehabilitation in the future. It is strictly forbidden to independently adjust the ankle, because you cannot make a mistake here. Only a competent specialist can do this correctly so that then there is no displacement of bones and fragments during a fracture.
After the doctor corrects the dislocation, the victim needs to stay for a while in the hospital until the swelling falls. Then it is necessary to apply a plaster cast, and the patient should wear it for three weeks. Then, for two months, the leg is fixed with a tire to avoid unnecessary movements. If necessary, a removable tire is fixed for several more weeks. In addition, the patient must treat ankle dislocation at home through therapeutic and preventive exercises. Gymnastics should be performed daily, and effective warming ointment will help relieve symptoms.
Physiotherapy and massage are simply indispensable for recovery in a short time. The doctor often prescribes electrophoresis, paraffin baths and warming baths. All this in a complex can give a very good effect in the near future.
Rehabilitation
Treatment at home ankle dislocation comes down to competent recovery after an injury. It is worth noting that the best medicine is time and patience. If we talk about damage to the ankle (when help was provided in a timely and competent manner), then you can not give a load on the leg for two or three months. After a month, doctors are usually allowed to walk on crutches. Experts recommend wearing specialized shoes for another year after an injury.
To reduce recovery time, you need to regularly engage in physical therapy. Preference should be given to such exercises as walking, exercising on a stationary bike, water gymnastics, rolling a cylindrical object.
ethnoscience
Treatment of ankle dislocation at home is also possible with the help of folk remedies. The most effective are the following recipes:
- compresses from celandine and calendula flowers can be applied to the sore spot, this will relieve pain and swelling;
- a good option would be to lubricate the injury site with a mixture of turpentine, ammonia and laundry soap;
- the napkins moistened with vinegar and salt also relieve symptoms, they must be applied to the damaged ankle.
It should be immediately noted that alternative methods of treatment only help relieve symptoms, and it is best to use them as additional therapy, that is, together with traditional methods. Injury should be treated under the supervision of a physician. Ensure normal functioning will only help effective therapy, which is able to appoint a qualified specialist. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the rehabilitation period, so do not ignore the advice of a doctor in this regard.
Prevention
In order not to worry about the treatment of ankle dislocation at home or in the hospital, you do not need to allow injury. Of course, such damage can happen to everyone regardless of compliance with preventive measures. And yet, if you are more careful about your health, the risk of injury is significantly reduced.
Basic rules of prevention:
- wear only shoes in which your feet are comfortable and comfortable;
- always follow basic safety rules when doing physical exercises;
- on slippery surfaces, move carefully and carefully;
- physical exercises should be done with an elastic bandage or bandage, this will reduce the risk of injury;
- strengthen the muscles of the limbs, just do not overdo it;
- if you are concerned about the ankle, do not delay the visit to the doctor, because the consequences can be the most sad.
Ankle dislocation is a rather serious injury that is not easy to treat. But if first aid was correctly provided, effective therapy was prescribed and all the rules of rehabilitation were followed, the patient can count on a relatively quick recovery. Soon, a person can return to their usual way of life, and this is probably the main goal of the victim.
If the doctor detects an ankle fracture, then the situation is significantly exacerbated. Then in no case should you hesitate and you need to contact a specialist as soon as possible. Otherwise, complications will arise, and then the forecast will be completely disappointing. Arthritis, arthrosis, partial or complete muscle atrophy, inflammation of the soft tissues, scar formation, etc. are among the most common pathologies during a fracture. Therefore, it is important to provide high-quality first aid and to show the patient to a traumatologist in a short time.