Foot and Ankle Clinics. September 2002;7(3):529-549
Affiliations
1Department of Orthopaedics, University of Texas-Houston Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Room 6.156, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Abstract and keywords
The key to syndesmosis injuries is early recognition of the injury pattern and appropriate treatment. The clinician must be wary of the ankle sprain that is slow to heal. Radiographic criteria should be examined closely when considering the diagnosis; if surgery is warranted, attention to the health of the soft tissue envelope is key. Late repairs or reconstructions never have as favorable an outcome as the properly repaired acute injury. Postoperative rehabilitation should be monitored closely and care should be taken to avoid early return to activity that could result in reinjury or damage to the surgical repair or reconstruction.