Ankle Injuries and Motor Vehicle Accidents!

Most Common Ankle Injury Following a Motor Vehicle Accident

Dr. Aaron Workman, a patient favorite chiropractor at one of the highest rated car accident medical care facilities in Kentucky, examines the most common ankle injury following a car accident. Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) often result in a variety of injuries, and the ankles are particularly vulnerable due to the forceful impact they can receive. Bracing the feet on the floorboard, along with unpredictable movements during a crash, the ankle is a prime site for acute trauma. One of the most common ankle injuries following an MVA is a sprained ligament, with the Anterior Talofibular Ligament (ATFL) being the most frequently affected.

The ATFL is located on the outside of the ankle and connects a small bone in the ankle (talus) to the tiny, long bone of the lower leg that ends up as your ankle bone (fibula). This ligament is important for stabilizing the ankle, especially during movements where the foot is rolled inward. In the process of a car accident, the foot and ankle can be subjected to sudden and unnatural movements, leading to a sprain, and it is usually this ATFL.

This sprain occurs because the ligament is stretched past its normal range of motion, possibly having a tear in the soft tissue. In the case of the ATFL, this can happen when the foot is forcefully twisted or when the body is thrown in one direction while the foot remains stationary, common scenarios during car accidents. Your first sign may be bruising, pain and swelling along the front portion of your outside ankle bone. This sprain is graded 1-3 depending on the amount of damage the ligament sustains.

Grade 1: Involves mild stretching of the ligament without significant tearing. Pain, swelling, and tenderness are present but typically minor.

Grade 2: Involves partial tearing of the ligament, leading to more noticeable swelling, bruising, and difficulty putting weight on the injured foot.

Grade 3: Involves a complete rupture of the ligament, often resulting in severe pain, swelling, and instability of the ankle.

After an MVA, if the ATFL is mildly sprained and patients have multiple injuries, this trauma may be missed. The lateral ankle will usually be tender to touch. If you take off both shoes and compare the ankles side by side, one will usually be more swollen or even discolored due to bruising. The worse the sprain  typically the more severe pain with walking or standing. It is important to catch the diagnosis early and get advanced imaging and early treatment.

The ATFL is the most common ankle injury I see consistently with foot trauma following an MVA. While reviewing radiology reports it is common to see a history of trauma, missing ATFL ligaments and chronic sprains mentioned in the report, affirming this ligament is a key spot of torque in the foot. When that foot is locked on the floorboard and the sudden force from a crash transitions into the foot, it creates a huge strain into this ligament. Hopefully, being able to recognize the signs and symptoms of an ATFL sprain will help you bring attention to that injury early. If you find yourself suffering with a possible foot injury following a MVA, Chambers Medical Group can help.

— This article is written by Aaron Workman, DC, one of the members of Chambers Medical Group’s team of car accident chiropractors who offer a variety of treatments and therapies ranging from diagnostic testing to various soft tissue therapies for car accidents and injuries in Kentucky.

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