Question

When assessing D.m.'s injured ankle, what should be evaluated?

Answer 1

According to the given case D.M is 25 years old and was admitted in the emergency department with the complaints of pain in the right ankle. He stated that he stepped on another player's foot while playing basketball, and inverted his ankle. Swelling over the lateral malleolus down to the fourth and fifth metatarsals is noted. His pedal pulses are 3+ bilaterally.

Assessment of D. M.'s injured ankle includes the following evaluations:

1. Observation: It is generally the first stage in any assessment of injury. One would observe for swelling, bruises, deformity, or other postural issue.

2. Palpation: One can palpate the entire ankle's joint and the surrounding area to assess whether the joint s swollen and warm. One may also check if the ligaments feel pain when touched.

3. Range of motion test: One can then assess both the active and passive ankle movement, with the knee placed straight and then bent. One could also assess the flexibility of the ankle.

4. One can then go for resisted muscle test to assess the muscle strength around the ankle joint as compared to the other side.

S. Special test can be done to assess the ligaments integrity and how badly they are damaged. Functional test could also he performed to check how the injury in the ankle effects the patients walking, jumping and hopping.