Toddler Twisted Ankle Clinic Questions and Answers

An ankle sprain is an injury that causes a stretch or tear in any one of the ligaments in the ankle joint. The ankle has four main ligaments, which are strong connective bands of tissue that attach bones to the joint. The most common type of sprain is known as a lateral ankle sprain, which involves the ligaments on the outside part of the ankle. Another common type is medial ankle sprains, which involve the ligaments on the inside of the ankle. Signs and symptoms of a sprained ankle in toddlers may include:

• Swelling, which can develop in minutes or over the course of several hours and is caused by soft tissue damage
• Pain around the outside of the ankle
• Bruising, which shows up within two to three days, and typically appears at the site of the injured ligaments
• Inability to bear weight on the ankle

The only way to be certain if a toddler has sprained their ankle is to get a professional medical evaluation. Pediatricians diagnose ankle sprains by first asking the child about their symptoms and how the injury occurred. It is imperative that parents know what happened at the time of the injury, as this will greatly assist in the diagnosis. They will examine the child’s ankle, and may order an X-ray if needed, depending on the severity of the symptoms.

A twisted ankle should receive medical attention if it exhibits the following symptoms:

• Significant swelling
• Bone misalignment
• Severe pain not resolved with rest
• Marked tenderness to the touch
• The toddler cannot walk
• They cannot move their ankle or bear any weight on it
• There is a change in the color of the skin, such as purple or blue
• Numbness
• Bleeding or a break in the skin

A twisted ankle is another name for a sprained ankle and is more so referring to the way that the injury was sustained. Ankle sprains occur when the foot twists, turns or rolls beyond its normal motions and damage is sustained to one or more ligaments. Sprains can also occur if a foot is stomped on an uneven surface, beyond the normal force of stepping. This causes the ligaments to stretch in an abnormal position, beyond their normal range. A ligament is an elastic structure. Ligaments are designed to stretch within a certain range, where they can easily go back to their normal positions. A sprain occurs when a ligament is forced to stretch beyond its normal range of motion, and in severe cases, it can cause the elastic fibers to tear.

Sprains are more likely to result in a repeated injuries the ligaments can become more sensitive after previously being strained. Because of this, it is very important to receive proper treatment for a sprain as this protects the integrity of the ankles in the future.

At Bay Area Foot & Ankle Associates, we are dedicated to providing you and your little ones with the care you need to heal from and avoid future ankle injuries. We have convenient locations to better serve you: one in Brentwood and one in Walnut Creek (located near Rossmoor). We serve patients from Walnut Creek, Brentwood, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg, Antioch, Alamo, Danville, and Oakley, CA.