Major Conditions and Symptoms of Sprains

Sprains: Major conditions that can occur

1. Simple sprain

A simple sprain can occur in any joint, but the most common site of ligament injury is the ankle.

Most cases are lateral ligament sprains that occur when the ankle turns inward.

2. Joint instability

This is a condition in which, after a ligament tear caused by an initial sprain, proper treatment is not performed for the injured ligament.

As a result, joint stability is partially lost, and sprains continue to recur chronically.

3. Articular cartilage damage

This refers to a case in which, as a sprain occurs, the bones that make up the joint collide with each other and damage the cartilage.

For example, the ankle joint is a joint in which the tibia and fibula are bound together to form a mortise-like structure, and the talus is positioned within it, so the bony connection is well maintained. Therefore, when an inward ankle sprain occurs, the talus located within the mortise tilts outward, and the inner parts collide with each other, causing cartilage damage.

4. Loose bodies in the joint

This refers to a state in which a fragment of cartilage, or a fragment of bone and cartilage attached together, becomes separated due to trauma such as a sprain and remains inside the joint.

It can cause weakness of the muscles around the joint, joint instability, signs of inflammation within the joint, and swelling within the joint.

However, because loose bodies may be fixed within the joint or move freely, they can cause a wide range of symptoms, from mild symptoms to severe pain, swelling, and limited joint movement.

Symptoms

When an acute sprain occurs, tenderness and swelling develop at the site where the injured ligament is located in the affected joint, and subcutaneous bleeding is observed.

Ligament injuries usually improve after a few days as swelling and pain subside, so many people leave them untreated.

However, in the case of the knee or ankle, symptoms such as a feeling that it is loose, unstable, or out of alignment may occur. In other words, a ligament tear caused by an ankle ligament sprain leads to localized swelling and subcutaneous bleeding.

To reduce swelling and prevent further injury, immobilization with a plaster splint should be performed.

1. Sprains that require a hospital visit

When a sprain occurs, it is important to check for the presence of a fracture with plain radiography and determine the treatment plan.

So far, we have explained the major conditions and symptoms of sprains.

In the next part, we will look at the diagnosis of sprains.

Source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency National Health Information Portal

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