Ligament Testing
After ruling out a fracture, doctors will proceed by testing your ligaments to see if there is an ankle sprain. There are different ways to do this. The most evident and severe ankle sprains will be visible immediately because they trigger severe ankle deformity, swelling, and bruises. However, your doctor may also need to assess your ankle with something known as provocative maneuvers, which are useful to evaluate ankle stability and rule out lesions in your ligaments. They are:
- The anterior drawer test: With the patient supine, the examiner’s hands hold on to the tibia while slowly applying force forward in the direction of the heel. A positive result is defined as an apparent anterior displacement of the ankle away from the tibia, and it is a sign that the anterior talofibular ligament is compromised.
- The talar tilt test: This is a similar test and can also be performed with the patient supine. Again, the examiner’s hands will hold on to the tibia, and the other hand will apply force to the sides in the heel section. A positive result is defined as an apparent lateral displacement of the ankle away from the tibia, and it is a sign that the calcaneofibular ligament is compromised.
Sometimes, it won’t be possible to examine your ankle immediately. In such cases, doctors prescribe rest, ice, the elevation of the affected ankle, and anti-inflammatories for 3 to 5 days to relieve swelling and then examine the articulation once again.