Ankle Case 2 Diagnosis

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made by standard ankle X rays. These films should be examined so not to miss a subtle associated fracture to the medial or posterior malleolus, which would indicate a more unstable injury.

The physician may be called upon to perform a stress view of the ankle to assess ankle stability: this is performed by stabilizing the leg with one hand while the other hand grasps the great toe and everts the foot while an AP film is taken. Widening of the medial joint space on a stress view compared to the non-stress view signifies an unstable ankle mortise.