Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes sprained his proper ankle in a playoff sport towards the Jacksonville Jaguars on Jan. 21, 2023. AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann
Leading as much as the 2023 Super Bowl, one of many greatest factors of debate has been the appropriate ankle of Patrick Mahomes. During a playoff sport towards the Jacksonville Jaguars on Jan. 21, 2023, Mahomes, the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, awkwardly fell on his ankle after being tackled. Mahomes completed the sport after trainers taped the ankle up, however after the sport, information broke that he’d suffered a excessive ankle sprain.
As a surgeon who focuses on sport ankle accidents – and having myself sustained an identical harm whereas enjoying highschool soccer – I cringed once I noticed Mahomes go down throughout the sport towards the Jaguars. Ankle accidents are critical affairs. High ankle sprains are painful and may restrict efficiency, however given the extent of health of an NFL quarterback like Mahomes and the elite-level remedy and rehabilitation groups present to assist gamers get well, I anticipate he might be able to play at Super Bowl kickoff and the harm will trigger few if any issues throughout the sport.
The ankle joint is the place the decrease leg bones are stabilized and hooked up to the foot by a bunch of ligaments. This diagram reveals the surface view of a proper foot.
Jak/Wikimedia Commons
What is an ankle sprain?
The ankle is comprised of two massive leg bones – the tibia, or shin bone, and the smaller fibula, which sits exterior the tibia – and a variety of sturdy ligaments that connect the leg bones to the foot and stabilize the entire space.
An ankle sprain happens when somebody abnormally bends or rolls their ankle joint, resulting in the stretching or tearing of the ligaments that maintain the ankle collectively. Ankle sprains might be both “low” or “excessive” based mostly on the situation of the affected ligaments and are graded on a scale from one to 3 – gentle, average or extreme.
The commonest kind of ankle sprain entails ligaments of the decrease, exterior a part of ankle joint. Low ankle sprains often happen because of an inversion, or when the surface fringe of the foot rolls inward towards the only of the foot.
High ankle sprains, just like the harm Mahomes suffered, are rarer than low ankle sprains and are brought on by the other movement. When a defensive participant for the Jaguars tackled and fell on Mahomes, the defensive participant landed on Mahomes’ leg, inflicting the within of his foot to roll outward towards the small toe. This movement is what pressured his excessive ankle ligaments.
Walking it off or needing surgical procedure
After the harm, Patrick Mahomes was visibly in ache however capable of hobble off the sphere.
David Eulitt/Getty Images Sport
Most sprained ankles will end in some stage of ache, swelling and issue strolling on the affected joint — all issues that may have an effect on Mahomes’ means to play comfortably and on the stage wanted to deliver house the Lombardi Trophy. But there’s a large distinction between a minor, grade I sprain or a extreme grade III sprain when it comes to efficiency and restoration time.
The ligaments of a wholesome excessive ankle present extra stability than the decrease ligaments, so excessive ankle sprains are sometimes extra critical accidents. In a foul excessive ankle sprain, nearly all of the ligaments tear utterly, leading to extreme ache, swelling and sometimes bruising of the ankle. Initially it is vitally tough to even stand on the ankle, not to mention run or bounce. If not correctly handled, the harm can result in instability, weak point and ache that limits perform, particularly for an elite athlete.
Based on the video of the harm and my expertise treating skilled athletes, it appears like Mahomes suffered at minimal a grade II, or average, sprain. After a grade II sprain, most individuals want a interval of relaxation and remedy to cut back the irritation of the ankle. Resting from operating and leaping is vital within the fast days following the harm. If an athlete is ready to return to play in the identical sport or quickly after, that’s often a superb signal.
After every week of relaxation and remedy, Patrick Mahomes was again working towards, although his ankle was closely taped to enhance stability.
Christian Petersen/Getty Images Sport
Treating excessive ankle sprains
Generally, excessive ankle sprains take longer to heal and get well from than different forms of sprains, however remedy may help velocity up this course of.
When a affected person is available in complaining of a rolled ankle, I begin with a bodily examination to examine the soundness of the joint. If the ankle is secure and the affected person can run and bounce with little ache, that often means they’ve a low-grade harm and won’t require a lot time away from sports activities. With a little bit of relaxation, most individuals are again at their actions inside a couple of days.
For extra critical accidents, it’s first important to cut back the ache and swelling by means of a routine of relaxation, ice, compression and elevation, the well-known “RICE” technique. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine like ibuprofen may help scale back ache as properly. In circumstances the place the ankle is reasonably unstable, analysis reveals that offering sufferers with a boot to immobilize the ankle can velocity up the therapeutic course of.
I additionally suggest that my sufferers keep off the injured leg for a few days. After these first days of relaxation, most sufferers, and particularly elite athletes, can start placing weight on the ankle with the boot nonetheless on. After about 4 to seven days, I’ll start to transition my sufferers into energy and stability coaching with a give attention to lowering swelling. This will often embody low-impact coaching resembling stationary bike and pool remedy. Gradual return to sport-specific drills happens previous to return-to-play.
In probably the most extreme circumstances of grade III excessive ankle sprains, the ligaments might be torn utterly or injured to the purpose that they’re unlikely to heal in a manner that helps the ankle. In these circumstances, surgical procedure involving screws, plates and different {hardware} to carry the fibula and tibia collectively might be the best choice.
Thankfully for Mahomes and soccer followers throughout the U.S., his harm doesn’t seem to require surgical procedure, at the very least not instantly.
Research reveals that almost all athletes with excessive ankle sprains typically return to their sports activities and may play at an identical stage to how they performed earlier than their harm. While Mahomes is probably not at 100%, given the average severity of the harm, his health and the prime quality of care he’s receiving, I anticipate that he might be able to play an thrilling sport come kickoff on Super Bowl Sunday.
MaCalus V. Hogan is affiliated with American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society; American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery,and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine; Hall of Fame Health Medical Advisory Board
