Do All Ankle Sprains Need To Be Seen In The Emergency Room?
Not all ankle sprains need to be evaluated by a physician. Some general rules to follow with ankle sprains and physician referral are as follows: • Exquisite bone tenderness on either malleolus (ankle bones), • Inability to bear any weight after the accident or 1 hour after injury, • Immediate and large volume of swelling, • The age of the athlete is under 16, or • Obvious gross deformity. If any of the above are present, the athlete should be referred to a physician for examination and possible x-rays. This does not mean that the athlete must go to the nearest Emergency Room. Going to the E.R. immediately will answer the question of a fracture, but may not be the best treatment for a “minor or moderate” ankle sprain. E.R.’s tend to place all ankle sprains on crutches and tell the injured party to “stay off it for 2 weeks, then see an orthopaedic surgeon.” This doubles your expense, as well. We have found that with most mild to moderate sprains the best treatment is immediate rehabilit
