Grade I lateral ankle sprain involves what damage?

Grade I lateral ankle sprain involves what damage?

• A. Complete rupture of ATFL and CFL.
• B. Deltoid ligament injury.
• C. Stretching of the ATFL with mild pain, localized tenderness, and minimal swelling.
• D. Partial tearing of ATFL and possibly CFL with diffuse swelling and a positive anterior drawer test.

Answer: (C)

Grade I lateral ankle sprain means the ATFL is stretched but not torn. You’d expect only mild pain, localized tenderness over the ATFL, and minimal swelling, with no ankle instability and a negative anterior drawer test. This distinguishes it from higher grades: a complete rupture of the ATFL and CFL describes a much more severe injury (Grade III); a deltoid ligament injury involves the medial side and isn’t typical of a pure lateral sprain; and partial tearing of the ATFL (with possible CFL involvement) along with swelling and a positive anterior drawer test fits Grade II, indicating some laxity.

Grade I lateral ankle sprain means the ATFL is stretched but not torn. You’d expect only mild pain, localized tenderness over the ATFL, and minimal swelling, with no ankle instability and a negative anterior drawer test. This distinguishes it from higher grades: a complete rupture of the ATFL and CFL describes a much more severe injury (Grade III); a deltoid ligament injury involves the medial side and isn’t typical of a pure lateral sprain; and partial tearing of the ATFL (with possible CFL involvement) along with swelling and a positive anterior drawer test fits Grade II, indicating some laxity.