KOBE BRYANT SPRAINS ANKLE:Yes, it's true. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers was held to only five points in Wednesday's game against the Charlotte Bobcats due to injuries, most notably his left ankle. With one of the longest consecutive games playing streak (234), he wants to play this weekend so he is undergoing treatment for his ankle injury, which has been updated to an ankle sprain today.
As an attendee at the Lakers game against the Bobcats on 2/3/10, it was unusual to see Kobe limping off the court. It was also interesting to hear many spectators commenting that he needed to "step it up" or "get his head in the game." But with a moderate to severe ankle sprain, that would be hard to do. Most people did not know at that time about all of his injuries. (He has also been playing with a taped up broken finger.)
Ankle sprains vary in degree from Grade I (mild) to Grade II (moderate) to Grade III (severe), and treatment regimens vary as well, depending on the severity of the injury. Another thing to consider when treating ankle sprains is if there are other associated injuries, such as avulsion fractures of the foot or ankle. Once x-rays and other radiographic studies are performed by a physician to rule out these other injuries, treatment of the ankle sprain can begin.
For any ankle sprain, it is always a good idea to begin with "RICE" treatment:
- R stands for rest. The patient needs to keep his or her body weight off of the injured ankle. This could mean complete rest at home, lying or sitting down, using crutches properly while ambulating, or the temporary use of a wheelchair. Whichever method is chosen, it is important to rest the ankle for as long as the physician says to ensure proper healing time.
- I stands for ice. In the inital post-injury time period, ice is critical to prevent and limit swelling. If swelling has already set in, the ice can limit further swelling. If swelling has not set in yet, the ice can actually prevent swelling. It limits the inflammation of the injured soft tissue structures. A good rule of thumb is to ice the injured ankle for 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off. The first 48 hours are most critical for the icing. Also, do not apply ice directly to the skin. Place a thin towel between the ice pack and the skin to prevent skin damage.
- C stands for compression. The injured ankle needs to be wrapped in a compression dressing. The treating physician will determine which form of compression to use. Compression dressings vary from a simple elastic bandage (like an Ace bandage) to a multi-layer splint to even a cast. It is very important to apply compression as soon as possible post-injury to prevent and control swelling and to limit movement of the injured soft tissue structures.
- E stands for elevation. Once the injured ankle is iced and wrapped, it needs to be elevated to limit swelling. Ideally, the extremity should be elevated above the level of the heart. So if the patient is lying down, propping up the foot on two pillows is sufficient. If the patient is seated, extending the leg onto a stool or another chair is better than nothing, but ideally it should be much higher (such as in a recliner with the foot as high up as possible).
***Stay tuned for Part II of this blog discussing what happens to ankle sprains that are not treated properly.
If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Colon's office:http://www.footdoc.moogo.com/
Dr. Michele Summers Colon, DPM, MS
3503 Lexington Ave.
El Monte, CA 91731
(626) 442-1223
dr.michele.colon@gmail.com
