Ankle injuries are common in most sports and can vary in severity. An injury that gets a large amount of limelight in sports such as Rugby League (and is important not to be missed!) is a high ankle sprain or syndesmosis injury. So what is it?
The two bones in your shin (tibia and fibula) join together in two places; at the top of your shin below the knee (proximal tibio-fibular joint) and at the bottom of your shin above the ankle (distal tibio-fibular joint).
The syndesmosis can be seen here between the tibia and fibula.
The ligament at the front (anterior) of the joint is called the anterior inferior tibio-fibular ligament (AITFL)
The ligament in the middle of the joint is called the interosseous ligament
The back (posterior) of the joint has two ligaments called the posterior inferior tibio-fibular ligament (PITFL) and the transverse ligament
These ligaments contribute a different proportion to total joint stability, which means the best management plan depends on which ligament(s) are involved in the injury.
The two posterior ligaments are responsible for 40-45% of stability for the joint; with the anterior ligament contributing 35% and the middle ligament 20-25%.
Most commonly the ankle is forced into and beyond end range positions of dorsi-flexion (foot bending up towards your shin) and external rotation (foot rotating away from your body). This can happen in contact sports when someone falls onto the outside of your ankle.
Syndesmosis injuries can range from stable and minor to significant unstable injuries involving multiple ligaments and fractures.
Syndesmosis injuries can feel somewhat similar to the common lateral ankle sprain, however pain and disability are usually more severe – weight bearing can be quite tricky. A syndesmosis injury can be diagnosed during an assessment with a good history and clinical exam. Imaging may be required for more severe injuries to assess for the extent of ligament involvement and potential fractures as these will change the management plan. An early diagnosis is important as treatment is different for syndesmosis injuries compared to a lateral ankle sprain, and continued activity can progress the injury and lead to less optimal outcomes.
Treatment involves the following stages for mild to moderate syndesmosis injuries:
This stage protects against further injury and allows the involved structures to heal optimally. A period of reduced weight bearing, brace or boot may be necessary to allow structures to heal. The extent and timeframe of joint protection is dependent on the severity of injury, as well as your lifestyle and how you use your ankle day to day.
This stage is designed to improve movement and function progressing back to everyday tasks such as walking and stairs. Range of motion and strengthening exercises are used to assist with this transition.
The activities/sport that you want to return to are broken down into specific movements. These are gradually introduced as your ankle can tolerate and are progressed back to a return to full function. An exercise program is used to build your capacity for these tasks and to help reduce the risk of recurrence.
In more severe injuries, a surgical review may be required. The most common surgery for a syndesmosis injury fixes tightropes between the tibia and fibula to stabilise the distal tibio-fibular joint. Rehabilitation following surgery follows the same process outlined above, with normal return to sport timeframe being anywhere from 2-6 months.
The most common surgery for a syndesmosis injury fixes tightropes between the tibia and fibula to stabilise the distal tibio-fibular joint.
If you or someone you know has had a similar incident or symptoms described above, it is important to go and see your physiotherapist as soon as possible. Continued weight bearing on a syndesmosis injury can lead to sub-optimal healing, so the earlier it is identified and managed the better the outcomes will be.
