5 Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) are generally accepted methods for treating inflammation after trauma, such as acute ankle sprain. The PTFL usually is not injured unless a true dislocation of the ankle occurs. 13, 14 Broström 5 found that combined ruptures of the ATFL and the CFL occurred in 20% of the cases and that isolated rupture of the CFL occurred in only 3%. 12 The ATFL is the first or only ligament to sustain injury in 97% of the cases. The ankle ligaments are the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), calcaneofibular ligament (CFL), and posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL), and together they form the lateral ligament complex of the ankle. 10 Most authors use the term sprain to describe a morphologic condition representing a diversity of pathologic conditions, ranging from overstretching of the ligament to complete rupture with gross instability of the joint. 9 The annual cost to society for ankle injuries has been estimated to be approximately €40 million (US $30.4 million) per 1 million people. Each year, approximately 1 million patients with acute lateral ankle ligament injuries are examined by primary care physicians in the United States. The treatment of inversion ankle injuries is provided by emergency and primary health care physicians, athletic trainers, physiotherapists, and orthopaedic and trauma surgeons. 6, 7 If not treated properly, inversion injuries of the ankle can result in persistent problems in 30% to 40% of patients. 2, 3 About 50% of these injuries are sport related 4, 5 some sports (basketball, soccer, and volleyball) have a particularly high incidence of ankle injuries. Inversion injuries involve about 25% of all injuries of the musculoskeletal system, which affect more than 20 000 patients in the United States each day. 1 The most common mechanism of injury is inversion of the plantar-flexed foot. Researchers have estimated that 1 ankle sprain occurs per 10 000 people each day.

Ankle sprains are one of the most prevalent injuries of the musculoskeletal system.

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