Abstract
The initial diagnosis of an “ankle sprain” is not always correct. Prolonged pain, swelling and disability sufficient to limit the activity and refractory to treatment following an ankle injury are not typical of an ankle sprain and should alert the clinician of the possibility of an alternative or an associated diagnosis. There are several conditions that can be misdiagnosed as an ankle sprain and those include ankle syndesmosis injuries, sinus tarsi syndrome, ankle and hind foot fractures, osteochondral lesions, posterior tibialis and peroneal tendons abnormalities, spring ligament damage, impingement syndromes and reflex sympathetic dystrophy. In this review, we discuss the imaging features of these conditions that can clinically mimic an ankle sprain. It is crucial to remember that unresolved ankle pain following an injury is not always just due to a “sprain”.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kannus P, Renström P (1991) Treatment for acute tears of the lateral ligaments of the ankle. Operation, cast, or early controlled mobilization. J Bone Joint Surg Am 73(2):305–312
Birrer RB, Fani-Salek MH, Totten VY, Herman LM, Politi V (1999) Managing ankle injuries in the emergency department. J Emerg Med 17(4):651–660
Renstrom PA (1994) Persistently painful sprained ankle. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2(5):270–280
Rubin A, Sallis R (1996) Evaluation and diagnosis of ankle injuries. Am Fam Physician 54(5):1609–1618
Chandnani VP, Harper MT, Ficke JR et al (1994) Chronic ankle instability: evaluation with MR arthrography, MR imaging, and stress radiography. Radiology 192(1):189–194
Milz P, Milz S, Steinborn M, Mittlmeier T, Putz R, Reiser M (1998) Lateral ankle ligaments and tibiofibular syndesmosis. 13-MHz high-frequency sonography and MRI compared in 20 patients. Acta Orthop Scand 69(1):51–55
Brostrom L (1965) Sprained ankles III. Clinical observations in recent ligament ruptures. Acta Chir Scand 130:560–569
Frost SC, Amendola A (1999) Is stress radiography necessary in the diagnosis of acute or chronic ankle instability? Clin J Sport Med 9(1):40–45
Muhle C, Frank LR, Rand T et al (1999) Collateral ligaments of the ankle: high-resolution MR imaging with a local gradient coil and anatomic correlation in cadavers. Radiographics 19(3):673–683
Oae K, Takao M, Uchio Y, Ochi M (2010) Evaluation of anterior talofibular ligament injury with stress radiography, ultrasonography and MR imaging. Skeletal Radiol 39(1):41–47
Rosenberg ZS, Beltran J, Bencardino JT (2000) MR imaging of the ankle and foot. Radiographics 20:S153–179
Verhaven EF, Shahabpour M, Handelberg FW, Vaes PH, Opdecam PJ (1991) The accuracy of three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of ruptures of the lateral ligaments of the ankle. Am J Sports Med 19(6):583–587
Peetrons P, Creteur V, Bacq C (2004) Sonography of ankle ligaments. J Clin Ultrasound 32(9):491–499
Chhabra A, Subhawong K, Carrino JA (2010) MR imaging of the deltoid ligament pathologic findings and associated impingement syndromes. Radiographics 30:751–761
Gerber JP, Williams GN, Scoville CR, Arciero RA, Taylor DC (1998) Persistent disability associated with ankle sprains: a prespective examimantion of an athletic population. Foot Ankle Int 19(10):653–660
Tochigi Y, Yoshinaga K, Wada Y, Moriya H (1998) Acute inversion injuries of the ankle: magnetic resonance imaging and clinical outcomes. Foot Ankle Int 19(11):730–734
Boytim MJ, Fischer DA, Neumann L (1991) Syndesmotic ankle sprains. Am J Sports Med 19(3):294–298
Xenos JS, Hopkinson WJ, Mulligan ME, Olson EJ, Popovic NA (1995) The tibiofibular syndesmosis. Evaluation of the ligamentous structures, methods of fixation, and radiographic assessment. J Bone Joint Surg Am 77(6):847–856
Brown KW, Morrison WB, Schweitzer ME, Parellada JA, Nothnagel H (2004) MRI findings associated with distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury. AJR Am J Roentgenol 182(1):131–136
Taillard W, Meyer JM, Garcia J, Blanc Y (1981) The sinus tarsi syndrome. Int Orthop 5(2):117–130
Balen PF, Helms CA (2001) Association of posterior tibial tendon injury with spring ligament injury, sinus tarsi abnormality, and plantar fasciitis on MR imaging. AJR Am J Roentgenol 176(5):1137–1143
Klein MA, Spreitzer AM (1993) MR imaging of the tarsal sinus and canal: normal anatomy, pathologic findings, and features of the sinus tarsi syndrome. Radiology 186:233–240
Lektrakul N, Chung CB, Lai YM et al (2001) Tarsal sinus: arthrographic, MR imaging, MR arthrographic, and pathologic findings in cadavers and retrospective study data in patients with sinus tarsi syndrome. Radiology 219(3):802–810
Mengiardi B, Zanetti M, Schottle PB et al (2005) Spring ligament complex: MR imaging-anatomic correlation and findings in asymptomatic subjects. Radiology 237(1):242–249
Chen JP, Allen AM (1997) MR diagnosis of traumatic tear of the spring ligament in a pole vaulter. Skeletal Radiol 26(5):310–312
Borton DC, Saxby TS (1997) Tear of the plantar calcaneonavicular (spring) ligament causing flatfoot. A case report. J Bone Joint Surg Br 79(4):641–643
Subhas N, Sundaram M (2007) Diagnosis: isolated spring ligament tear demonstrated on magnetic resonance imaging. Orthopedics 30(1):70–72
Yao L, Gentili A, Cracchiolo A (1999) MR imaging findings in spring ligament insufficiency. Skeletal Radiol 28(5):245–250
Toye LR, Helms CA, Hoffman BD, Easley M, Nunley JA (2005) MRI of spring ligament tears. AJR Am J Roentgenol 184(5):1475–1480
Harish S, Jan E, Finlay K et al (2007) Sonography of the superomedial part of the spring ligament complex of the foot: a study of cadavers and asymptomatic volunteers. Skeletal Radiol 36(3):221–228
Tryfonidis M, Jackson W, Mansour R et al (2008) Acquired adult flat foot due to isolated plantar calcaneonavicular (spring) ligament insufficiency with a normal tibialis posterior tendon. Foot Ankle Surg 14(2):89–95
Mansour R, Teh J, Sharp RJ, Ostlere S (2008) Ultrasound assessment of the spring ligament complex. Eur Radiol 18(11):2670–2675
Stiell I, Wells G, Laupacis A et al (1995) Multicentre Trial to introduce the Ottawa Ankle Rules for use of radiography in acute ankle injuries. Multicentre Ankle Rule Study Group. BMJ 311(7005):594–597
Kelly AM, Richards D, Kerr L et al (1994) Failed validation of a clinical decision rule for the use of radiography in acute ankle injury. N Z Med J 107(982):294–295
Warren NP, Knottenbelt JD (2001) The Ottawa Ankle Rules and missed fractures of the talus. Emerg Med J 18(6):521
Hepple S, Winson IG, Glew D (1999) Osteochondral lesions of the talus: a revised classification. Foot Ankle Int 20(12):789–793
Elias I, Jung JW, Raikin SM, Schweitzer MW, Carrino JA, Morrison WB (2006) Osteochondral lesions of the talus: change in MRI findings over time in talar lesions without operative intervention and implications for staging systems. Foot Ankle Int 27(3):157–166
Verhagen RA, Maas M, Dijkgraaf MG, Tol JL, Krips R, van Dijk CN (2005) Prospective study on diagnostic strategies in osteochondral lesions of the talus. Is MRI superior to helical CT? J Bone Joint Surg Br 87(1):41–46
Schibany N, Ba-Ssalamah A, Marlovits S et al (2005) Impact of high field (3.0 T) magnetic resonance imaging on diagnosis of osteochondral defects in the ankle joint. Eur J Radiol 55(2):283–288
El-Khoury GY, Alliman KJ, Lundberg HJ, Rudert MJ, Brown TD, Saltzman CL (2004) Cartilage thickness in cadaveric ankles: measurement with double-contrast multi-detector row CT arthrography versus MR imaging. Radiology 233(3):768–773
Schmid MR, Pfirrmann CW, Hodler J, Vienne P, Zanetti M (2003) Cartilage lesions in the ankle joint: comparison of MR arthrography and CT arthrography. Skeletal Radiol 32(5):259–265
Bonvin F, Montet X, Copercini M, Martinoli C, Bianchi S (2003) Imaging of fractures of the lateral process of the talus, a frequently missed diagnosis. Eur J Radiol 47(1):64–70
Boon AJ, Smith J, Zobitz ME, Amrami KM (2001) Snowboarder’s talus fracture. Mechanism of injury. Am J Sports Med 29(3):333–338
Paulos LE, Johnson CL, Noyes FR (1983) Posterior compartment fractures of the ankle. A commonly missed athletic injury. Am J Sports Med 11(6):439–443
Hodge JC (1999) Anterior process fracture or calcaneus secundarius: a case report. J Emerg Med 17(2):305–309
Pao DG, Keats TE, Dussault RG (2000) Avulsion fracture of the base of the fifth metatarsal not seen on conventional radiography of the foot: the need for an additional projection. AJR Am J Roentgenol 175(2):549–552
Le Minor JM (1987) Comparative anatomy and significance of the sesamoid bone of the peroneus longus muscle (os peroneum). J Anat 151:85–99
Wander DS, Galli K, Ludden JW, Mayer DP (1994) Surgical management of a ruptured peroneus longus tendon with a fractured multipartite os peroneum. J Foot Ankle Surg 33(2):124–128
Pessina R (1988) Os peroneum fracture. A case report. Clin Orthop Relat Res 227:261–264
Sobel M, Pavlov H, Geppert MJ, Thompson FM, DiCarlo EF, Davis WH (1994) Painful os peroneum syndrome: a spectrum of conditions responsible for plantar lateral foot pain. Foot Ankle Int 15(3):112–124
Brigido MK, Fessell DP, Jacobson JA et al (2005) Radiography and US of os peroneum fractures and associated peroneal tendon injuries: initial experience. Radiology 237(1):235–241
Grant TH, Kelikian AS, Jereb SE, McCarthy RJ (2005) Ultrasound diagnosis of peroneal tendon tears. A surgical correlation. J Bone Joint Surg Am 87(8):1788–1794
Wang XT, Rosenberg ZS, Mechlin MB, Schweitzer ME (2005) Normal variants and diseases of the peroneal tendons and superior peroneal retinaculum: MR imaging features. Radiographics 25(3):587–602
Gray JM, Alpar EK (2001) Peroneal tenosynovitis following ankle sprains. Injury 32(6):487–489
Abosala A, Tumia N, Anderson D (2003) Tibialis posterior tendon rupture in children. Injury 34(11):866–867
Foster AP, Thompson NW, Crone MD, Charlwood AP (2005) Rupture of the tibialis posterior tendon: an important differential in the assessment of ankle injuries. Emerg Med J 22(12):915–916
Marks RM, Schon LC (1998) Posttraumatic posterior tibialis tendon insertional elongation with functional incompetency: a case report. Foot Ankle Int 19(3):180–183
Mosier SM, Lucas DR, Pomeroy G, Manoli A 2nd (1998) Pathology of the posterior tibial tendon in posterior tibial tendon insufficiency. Foot Ankle Int 19(8):520–524
Kohls-Gatzoulis J, Angel JC, Singh D, Haddad F, Livingstone J, Berry G (2004) Tibialis posterior dysfunction: a common and treatable cause of adult acquired flatfoot. BMJ 329(7478):1328–1333
Nallamshetty L, Nazarian LN, Schweitzer ME et al (2005) Evaluation of posterior tibial pathology: comparison of sonography and MR imaging. Skeletal Radiol 34(7):375–380
Robinson P, White LM, Salonen D, Ogilvie-Harris D (2002) Anteromedial impingement of the ankle: using MR arthrography to assess the anteromedial recess. AJR Am J Roentgenol 178(3):601–604
Messiou C, Robinson P, O’Connor PJ, Grainger A (2006) Subacute posteromedial impingement of the ankle in athletes: MR imaging evaluation and ultrasound-guided therapy. Skeletal Radiol 35(2):88–94
Robinson P, White LM (2002) Soft-tissue and osseous impingement syndromes of the ankle: role of imaging in diagnosis and management. Radiographics 22(6):1457–1469
Cerezal L, Abascal F, Canga A et al (2003) MR imaging of ankle impingement syndromes. AJR Am J Roentgenol 181(2):551–559
Jordan LK III, Helms CA, Cooperman AE, Speer KP (2000) Magnetic resonance imaging findings in anterolateral impingement of the ankle. Skeletal Radiol 29:34–39
Robinson P, White LM, Salonen DC, Daniels TR, Ogilvie-Harris D (2001) Anterolateral ankle impingement: MR arthrographic assessment of the anterolateral recess. Radiology 221(1):186–190
Hillier JC, Peace K, Hulme A, Healy JC (2004) Pictorial review: MRI features of foot and ankle injuries in ballet dancers. Br J Radiol 77(918):532–537
Bureau NJ, Cardinal E, Hobden R, Aubin B (2000) Posterior ankle impingement syndrome: MR imaging findings in seven patients. Radiology 215(2):497–503
Karasick D, Schweitzer ME (1996) The os trigonum syndrome: imaging features. AJR Am J Roentgenol 166(1):125–129
Cheng JC, Ferkel RD (1998) The role of arthroscopy in ankle and subtalar degenerative joint disease. Clin Orthop Relat Res 349:65–72
Van Dijk CN, Wessel RN, Tol JL, Maas M (2002) Oblique radiograph for the detection of bone spurs in anterior ankle impingement. Skeletal Radiol 31(4):214–221
Tol JL, Verhagen RA, Krips R et al (2004) The anterior ankle impingement syndrome: diagnostic value of oblique radiographs. Foot Ankle Int 25(2):63–68
Haller J, Bernt R, Seeger T, Weissenback A, Tuchler H, Resnick D (2006) MR-imaging of anterior tibiotalar impingement syndrome: agreement, sensitivity and specificity of MR-imaging and indirect MR-arthrography. Eur J Radiol 58(3):450–460
Mutch P, Grossman VG (2001) A 22-year-old woman with exquisite burning pain 4 weeks after an ankle sprain. J Emerg Nurs 27(3):234–237
Schweitzer ME, Mandel S, Schwartzman RJ, Knobler RL, Tahmoush AJ (1995) Reflex sympathetic dystrophy revisited: MR imaging findings before and after infusion of contrast material. Radiology 95(1):211–214
Genant HK, Kozin F, Bekerman G, McCarty DJ, Sims J (1975) The reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome. A comprehensive analysis using fine-detail radiography, photon absorptiometry, and bone and joint scintigraphy. Radiology 117:21–32
Darbois H, Boyer B, Dubayle P, Lechevalier D, David H, Ait-Ameur A (1999) MRI symptomology in reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the of the foot. J Radiol 80(8):849–854
Snyder RB, Lipscomb AB, Johnston RK (1981) The relationship of tarsal coalitions to ankle sprains in athletes. Am J Sports Med 9(5):313–317
Bohne WH (2001) Tarsal coalition. Curr Opin Pediatr 13(1):29–35
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mansour, R., Jibri, Z., Kamath, S. et al. Persistent ankle pain following a sprain: a review of imaging. Emerg Radiol 18, 211–225 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-011-0945-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-011-0945-8