DOES AN ANKLE SPRAIN LEAD TO ARTHRITIS?

I read in a sports magazine that ankle sprains might lead to arthritis years later. How long does this process take, and what actually happens?

According to a recent study from the Human Performance Lab at the University of Calgary, there can be a latency period of up to 30 years between a severe ankle sprain and the onset of ankle osteoarthritis (OA).

Younger individuals tend to develop arthritis sooner than older adults, and those with single episodes of ankle sprain might experience OA as much as 10 years earlier than those with chronic, recurring sprains. The reasons for these variations are not yet fully understood.

The risk of developing arthritis is influenced by the type of injury and the specific area of the ankle that was injured. Lateral ankle sprains, which affect the outside of the leg, are more likely to cause misalignment and uneven wear on the joint.

The severity of the injury also plays a role. Severe ligament tears can lead to increased shear forces on the joint cartilage, causing further damage beyond the ligament injury itself. Without strong ligaments to stabilize the ankle, instability occurs. This instability leads to uneven or excessive motion in the joint, which slowly damages the cartilage over time, eventually leading to osteoarthritis.

Reference:

Victor Valderrabano, MD, et al. “Ligamentous Posttraumatic Ankle Osteoarthritis.” The American Journal of Sports Medicine, April 2006, Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 612-620.