Symptomatic ossification of the tibiofibular syndesmosis in professional football players:​ a sequela of the syndesmotic ankle sprain

Veltri, Daniel M.; Pagnani, Michael J.; O'Brien, Steven J.; Warren, Russell F.; Ryan, Michael D.; Barnes, Ronnie P.

Affiliations

¹Orthopaedic Services, Luke AFB, Litchfield Park, Arizona

²The Lipscomb Clinic, St. Thomas Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee

³The Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service at the Hospiral for Special Surgery, New York, New York

⁴The Jacksonville Jaguars, Jacksonville, Florida

⁵The New York Football Giants, New York, New York

Abstract

Ankle syndesmosis sprains are common injuries in collegiate and professional football. Several reports have documented that patients with syndesmosis injuries require a longer time to return to full athletic participation than patients with lateral ankle sprains. Here we present the cases of two professional football players with ankle pain secondary to syndesmosis ossification following documented syndesmosis ankle sprains. Both patients eventually required resection of the heterotopic ossification to allow a pain-free return to football. We conclude that syndesmosis ossification may be symptomatic in some patients, and surgical excision of the ossification may be required to allow an asymptomatic return to sports.

Links

PubMed: 7633585

WoS: A1995QY90700007

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Cited By (10)

Year	Entry
2000	Kennedy M, Sama A, Sigman M. Tibiofibular syndesmosis and ossification: case report: sequelae of ankle sprain in an adolescent football player. J Emerg Med. February 2000;18(2):233-240.
2001	Nussbaum ED, Hosea TM, Sieler SD, Incremona BR, Kessler DE. Prospective evaluation of syndesmotic ankle sprains without diastasis. Am J Sports Med. January 2001;29(1):31-35.
2004	Wright RW, Barile RJ, Surprenant DA, Matava MJ. Ankle syndesmosis sprains in National Hockey League players. Am J Sports Med. December 2004;32(8):1941-1945.
2007	Williams GN, Jones MH, Amendola A. Syndesmotic ankle sprains in athletes. Am J Sports Med. July 2007;35(7):1197-1207.
2001	Smith KM, Kovacich-Smith KJ, Witt M. Evaluation and management of high ankle sprains. Clin Podiatr Med Surg. July 2001;18(3):443-456.
2007	van den Bekerom MPJ, Raven EEJ. Current concepts review: operative techniques for stabilizing the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis. Foot Ankle Int. December 2007;28(12):1302-1308.
2012	Sikka RS, Fetzer GB, Sugarman E, Wright RW, Fritts H, Boyd JL, Fischer DA. Correlating MRI findings with disability in syndesmotic sprains of NFL players. Foot Ankle Int. May 2012;33(5):371-378.
1999	Doughtie M. Syndesmotic ankle sprains in football: a survey of National Football League athletic trainers. J Athl Train. March 1999;34(1):15-18.
1998	Alonso A, Khoury L, Adams R. Clinical tests for ankle syndesmosis injury: reliability and prediction of return to function. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. April 1998;27(4):276-284.
2018	Knapik DM, Trem A, Sheehan J, Salata MJ, Voos JE. Conservative management for stable high ankle injuries in professional football players. Sports Health. January–February 2018;10(1):80-84.