Sprains

A sprain is referred to as a rupture or overstretching of ligaments, which connect the bones within a joint. Usually, the adjacent blood vessels also get ruptured which causes bruises. Although the ligaments are very strong, almost every unfortunate fall or a misstep can lead to a sprain, if it makes the bone move within a joint in an unnatural manner.

Sprains can be concomitant with joint dislocations.

A sprain is accompanied by pain, oedema and – after a while – changed skin coloration at the injured area.

Before you contact your doctor, you should keep the leg lifted up; you should not walk, and if ice packs are available, they should be applied onto the injured limb for half an hour. You can also wrap up your sprained ankle with 8-cm-wide gauze. Never try to reduce the bones by yourself. Wait for medical transport or a physician.

The physician, whom you must visit with such an injury, will order an x-ray first. Owing to it, he/she will be able to determine not only the extent of an injury but also to exclude a bone fracture. In some cases the doctor may decide to perform an arthroscopy.

Sprain treatment

The management depends on the type of an injury and its severity grade. There are three grades of sprain severity:

• 1st grade is diagnosed when the ligament is overstretched, and any strain (tearing) is visible only under the microscope.
• 2nd grade is diagnosed when the ligament is partly ruptured,
• and 3rd grade – when a complete rupture has occurred.

In order to relieve the pain a patient may take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, if pain is very severe, the physician may decide to administer codeine.

After local anaesthesia, a non-painful bone reduction (i.e. setting them back in a proper alignment within the joint) is possible. Occasionally, and one needs to be aware of this, a surgery may be required.