How do you treat a syndesmosis injury?

How do you treat a syndesmosis injury?

How are these injuries treated? Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) are the first steps following an ankle injury. After that, treatment depends on the specifics of the injury. Recovery time following syndesmosis sprain can take twice as long as recovery from other ankle sprains.

How can syndesmosis be reduced?

Recently, the most common operative method used to reduce the syndesmosis has involved placement of a pointed reduction clamp around the distal tibia and fibula to maintain reduction of the syndesmosis with fixation (9–13).

How do you fix ankle syndesmosis?

Using direct vision and live X-ray techniques, your surgeon will place the syndesmosis iinto the correct position and set it with an implant. This typically involves one or two screws that go from the fibula bone into the tibia bone. The screws may be placed through a plate that sits on the fibula bone.

What is a syndesmosis disruption?

Abstract. Syndesmosis injuries occur when there is a disruption of the distal attachment of the tibia and fibula. These injuries occur commonly (up to 18% of ankle sprains), and the incidence increases in the setting of athletic activity. Recognition of these injuries is key to preventing long-term morbidity.

What is a syndesmosis fixation?

This technique is used to stabilize an ankle after injury. It can be used to repair a high ankle sprain, which damages the soft tissue structures between the tibia and fibula and causes these bones to separate. It can also be used to stabilize a fracture of the fibula.

How do you assess Syndesmotic reduction?

Conclusions: Accurate evaluation of the syndesmotic reduction can be determined intraoperatively using comparison mortise and talar dome lateral fluoroscopic images. Direct visualization of the syndesmosis or CT may not be necessary to achieve an accurate reduction in these injuries.

How long does syndesmosis take to heal?

How long does syndesmosis take to heal? Syndesmosis injuries generally involve a period of immobilisation for 4-6 weeks depending on severity. (Yes that means a moon boot!) Following this we allow a further 6-12 weeks for a full recovery.

When does syndesmosis need surgery?

Grade 3. Complete rupture of the ligament. This type of injury will require surgery and recovery time will be between 3-6 months.

How do you test for syndesmosis injury?

To perform the squeeze test, place a heel of each hand just proximal to the midpoint of the calf, and compress the tibia and fibula by squeezing in an anteromedial to posterolateral direction. A positive test is marked by reproduction of pain in the distal syndesmosis, just above the ankle joint.

What is a syndesmosis repair?

The syndesmosis cannot be simply repaired by suturing ligaments together, so instead, the two bones of the leg are stabilized together to allow the syndesmosis to heal in the proper alignment – either by using one or two screws that span the fibula and tibia completely (called syndesmosis screws), or alternatively, by …

Where does syndesmosis hurt?

An ankle syndesmosis injury is a common cause of pain at the front (anterior) of your ankle. This injury is also referred to as a high ankle sprain as it affects the ligaments above the ankle joint.