eMedicine Specialties > Sports Medicine > Foot and Ankle

Talofibular Ligament Injury: Follow-up

Author: Marc A Molis, MD, Medical Director of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine of Iowa
Coauthor(s): David F Martin, MD, Program Director, Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Aug 19, 2008

Follow-up

Return to Play

Athletes may return to sports following a talofibular ligament injury when they are able to run and pivot without pain while the ankle is braced. Bracing and taping of the injured ankle is continued during athletic activities for 6 months.

Related Medscape topic:
Resource Center Exercise and Sports Medicine

Complications

Up to 20% of patients with an acute inversion injury develop chronic functional instability. Electromyography (EMG) has demonstrated prolonged reaction times of the peroneal muscle in this group of patients. Strengthening and proprioception exercises can lead to improvement. Patients whose injury do not respond and have continued mechanical laxity and functional instability may be candidates for lateral ligament reconstruction.

Prevention

Completion of an adequate rehabilitation program, as well as functional bracing or taping for 6 months following the injury, minimizes the chance of recurrent injury.

Prognosis

Eighty percent of patients with lateral ankle injuries make a full recovery following conservative rehabilitation. Up to 20% demonstrate chronic ankle instability, requiring prolonged therapy and possibly surgical repair.

Education

To help prevent recurrent injury, patients should be instructed regarding the proper techniques for ankle taping and bracing. Ankle-strengthening and proprioception exercises should also be an important part of rehabilitation, and the patient should be instructed in an appropriate home exercise program.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Failure to diagnose a fracture
  • Misinterpretation of radiograph(s)
  • Failure to recognize an unstable ankle
  • Failure to refer significant injuries

Related Medscape topics:
Resource Center Fracture
Resource Center Medical Malpractice and Legal Issues
Resource Center Trauma
Specialty Site Orthopaedics
Specialty Site Radiology

 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author, Michael Taylor, MD, to the development and writing of this article.



More on Talofibular Ligament Injury

Overview: Talofibular Ligament Injury
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Talofibular Ligament Injury
Treatment & Medication: Talofibular Ligament Injury
Follow-up: Talofibular Ligament Injury
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

talofibular ligament injury, ankle sprain, inversion ankle injury, lateral ligament ankle sprain, anterior talofibular ligament injury, ATFL sprain, posterior talofibular ligament injury, PTFL sprain, recurrent ankle sprain

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Marc A Molis, MD, Medical Director of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine of Iowa
Marc A Molis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Association, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, and Iowa Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

David F Martin, MD, Program Director, Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine
David F Martin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Sports Medicine, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Orthopaedic Association, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Southern Medical Association, and Southern Orthopaedic Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Craig C Young, MD, Professor, Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Community and Family Medicine, Medical Director of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Fellowship Director, Medical College of Wisconsin
Craig C Young, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, Phi Beta Kappa, and Wilderness Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Russell D White, MD, Professor of Medicine, Department of Community and Family Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Truman Medical Center Lakewood
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Jon B Whitehurst, MD, Clinical Instructor of Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine; Partner and Executive Board Member, Rockford Orthopedic Associates; Orthopedic Chairman, Rockford Memorial Hospital
Jon B Whitehurst, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and Arthroscopy Association of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Sherwin SW Ho, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Section of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Chicago
Sherwin SW Ho, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and Arthroscopy Association of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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