Ligament Sprains: (Including Joint Capsule Injuries)

Presentation

Ligament sprains occur when a joint is distorted beyond its normal anatomic limits (as when an ankle is inverted, or a shoulder is dislocated and reduced). The patient may complain of a snapping or popping noise at the time of injury, immediate swelling, and loss of function (suggestive of grade II or III sprain or a fracture). Alternatively, the patient may come to the office within hours to days after the injury reporting gradually increasing swelling resulting in pain and stiffness after a less dramatic injury (suggestive of a grade I or II sprain and possibly the development of a traumatic effusion).