subject: Ankle Injury Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents by:Nemelou Despuez [print this page] Ankle injury usually happens when people loss their balance and then suddenly twist their foot. When this occurs, the most common types of injuries are strain and sprain.
Strain happens when the muscles or tendons, which are the tissues that connect muscles to bones, are stretched to its limit. In the case of sprains, the ligaments, which are tissues that connect a bone to another, become overstretched.
In serious cases, the ligaments tear and pull a fragment of a bone. Doctors called this injury avulsion fracture and this requires extensive treatment or even surgery.
While 45 percent of ankle injuries are caused by sports-related accidents, these can also happen in slip and fall incidents. However, experts have not yet determined the percentage of these accidents on the cases of ankle injuries.
The Scale of Injury
Podiatrists graded ankle injuries on a scale of one to three (mild, moderate, and severe), depending on the degree of the damage in the ligaments. Usually, X-rays are used to determine the level of the injury.
Common Treatments
Treating strains and sprains usually involves four simple steps commonly referred as RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation).
Rest - This means that the ankle should not receive weight that will put pressure on the injury, which can worsen the condition. Doctors usually require people with injured ankles to use crutches to allow them to easily move around without placing weight on the injury. Splinters, hard cast, or air cast are also used to provide support.
Ice - To reduce swelling, ice packs should be applied 20 minutes every hour until the inflammation eases.
Compression - Any elastic bandage such as gel wrap or compression stocking can be used to wrap the injured ankle and foot to provide support. However, it should not be wrapped too tightly to avoid discomfort.
Elevation - To reduce the swelling and bruising, the injured foot should be placed above the heart level within the first 48 hours after the accident.
With proper treatment, most common strains and sprains can heal in two to six weeks. Meanwhile, serious injuries usually take 12 weeks to heal, with extensive physical therapy and other treatment.
More Extensive Treatment
Doctors sometimes prescribe patients to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen which can reduce the inflammation and pain. However, these drugs should be used as instructed since it may cause gastrointestinal bleeding and cardiovascular problems.
Ankle injuries rarely require surgery. But in serious cases where patients experience chronic pain and recurring sprains, surgical method will be necessary to correct the ligaments.
Usually, the success rate of open surgery is more than 85 percent and people can return from their daily activities after two 2 months of recuperating.
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