What Problems Affect Ankle Cartilage?

Ankle cartilage injury is more common in ankle disease. In severe cases, pain and limited function of the affected ankle can occur. Ankle cartilage damage is most commonly seen in football players, so it is also called football ankle. It can also occur in sports such as gymnastics and skiing. Because osteophyte often appears in the later talus, this disease was once called ankle osteophyte wart.

Basic Information

Visiting department

orthopedics

Multiple groups

soccer player

Common causes

Vigorous exercise caused by excessive ankle flexion, dorsiflexion, varus

Common symptoms

Pain and restricted movement during ankle movement

Causes of ankle cartilage injury

Vigorous exercise, excessive plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, and varus of the ankle joint cause joint cartilage damage.

Clinical manifestations of ankle cartilage injury

1. Pain and limited movement during ankle movement

Is the main symptom of ankle cartilage damage. Pain during activity is early and pain occurs later even at rest. Most of the pain is in front of the ankle. When kicking the ball in front of the ankle, the osteophyte and soft tissue at the back of the ankle impact and squeeze and produce pain. During sprinting and jumping, the pain caused by the impact of the anterior tibial lip and talar neck is accompanied by osteophyte hyperplasia, thickening of the synovial sac, and the formation of free bodies, and joint movement restrictions become increasingly apparent until the joint mobility is significantly reduced.

2. Articular surface friction

There may be joint surface friction sounds, mainly caused by rough articular surface and thick synovial or free body friction.

3. Signs

The joints are slightly swollen, tender and rubbing, and the sound of friction is reduced, and the joint space is reduced. Even can be free and free.

Ankle cartilage injury examination

X-ray is the main method to diagnose football ankle. It can be seen that tibia and talar neck have lip and osteophyte formation, prolonged hyperplasia of posterior talus, sharpened both ankles, and sometimes narrowed ankle joint space.

Diagnosis of ankle cartilage injury

The diagnosis can be confirmed based on clinical manifestations, clinical manifestations of pain during ankle movement, and X-ray examination.

Ankle cartilage injury treatment

Conservative treatment

Various ointments are externally applied, ultra-short wave physiotherapy or iontophoresis, intra-articular or pain points are sealed. Try to use chondroprotective drugs (such as glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate) to relieve symptoms and improve the condition.

2. Surgical treatment

For osteophytes that are too large, the free body or joint space in the joint is reduced, and those who repeatedly interlock the ankle can be treated surgically.
Generally, there are different numbers of free bodies in the joints. The joint cavity should be carefully removed and repeatedly washed with normal saline. The general results are good after surgery, and training can be resumed after about 3 months.

Prevention of ankle cartilage damage

Strengthening the training of muscles around the ankle joint, using elastic bandages or adhesive bandages after injury or during the game to prevent excessive flexion and extension of the ankle joint and varus and avoid repeated sprains, is an effective measure to prevent football ankle.