Ankle Pain and Ankle Injuries

A torn or stretched ankle ligament can occur from simply walking down the street or when playing vigorous sports. The damage can range from mild to severe. A complete tear of the ankle ligament can cause your ankle joint to partially dislocate. This might sound like a pop and can be as painful as an ankle fracture. Immediate medical attention is required to determine the extent of your ankle injury.

Visit Duke Orthopaedics Urgent Care
Our convenient orthopaedic urgent care clinic is open seven days a week. Get fast service with no long waits and no unnecessary exposure to illness. No appointment needed; walk-ins are welcome.

Ankle Instability Increases Your Risk for Chronic Ankle Pain
Mild ankle injuries benefit from medical attention too. Ankle sprains that don’t heal properly can weaken your ankle over time and lead to chronic ankle pain. Ankle instability can put you at increased risk for chronic ankle pain and ankle arthritis. Duke foot and ankle experts use a variety of imaging techniques to evaluate your ankle injury, including X-rays to look for broken bones, and MRI and ultrasound to evaluate the health of your soft tissues, including ankle tendons, cartilage, and ankle ligaments.

If you have pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion in your ankle, you could have ankle arthritis. Unlike arthritis of the hip or knee, ankle arthritis is most often the result of a prior injury, trauma, or longstanding joint instability. Here Dr. Karl Schweitzer, a foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon at Duke Health, discusses the causes of ankle arthritis, and various treatments. 

Extensive Experience
Duke foot and ankle experts perform hundreds of foot and ankle procedures each year. They are board certified and fellowship trained in foot and ankle surgery.

Leading Ankle Researchers
Our foot and ankle surgeons' extensive research on ankle sprains, ankle instability, and ankle arthritis has informed the way we approach treatment. We understand how ankle instability changes the forces that impact the ankle. The results of our research help us get you back on your feet faster.

Ankle Repair and Ankle Reconstruction Surgery
Our foot and ankle surgeons use the latest techniques to repair and reconstruct ankle joints with bone and tissue grafts. These advances can result in less pain and better function.

Ankle Replacement Surgery Advances
We have extensive experience with the newest ankle implants and procedures. We were involved in the development or refinement of many of the ankle implants used in total ankle replacement surgery. Some of the newer ankle implants are only available at major ankle centers like Duke. They get you back to weight-bearing activities sooner.

Minimally Invasive Techniques
When ankle fracture or ankle trauma is present, we use minimally invasive surgical techniques. The small incisions translate to faster recoveries and a quicker return to your daily activities.