Inversion injury of ankle joint and foot in children: association with sports participation and comorbidities (analysis based on medical information system data)

BACKGROUND: Ankle joint and foot injuries are the most common type of musculoskeletal trauma in children. Their mechanism of injury mainly determines the pattern of damage. AIM: To optimize the diagnosis and treatment of inversion injuries of the ankle joint and foot in children and assess their association with sports participation and comorbidities. METHODS: Outpatient medical records of patients treated at the consultative and diagnostic department between 2014 and 2023 were analyzed. Overall, 1518 cases involving ankle joint and foot injuries were determined, including 111 patients referred with a preliminary diagnosis of sprain and an inversion injury mechanism. RESULTS: The study included boys and girls aged 10–16 years, one-third of them participated in sports, primarily team and gymnastic disciplines. Recurrent inversion injuries occurred more often in children who participated in sports, which should be considered when planning training programs and return to sport. Analysis of the incidence of injuries associated with inversion trauma showed that ligament sprains were most common in nonathlete children (39%), whereas bone fractures predominated in children who participated in sports (38%). CONCLUSION: This study revealed a high incidence of bone and ligament injuries associated with inversion trauma in children and elucidated the contribution of sports participation to these injuries. The broader use of magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound, along with the refinement and standardization of their protocols, improves the understanding of inversion injuries of the foot and facilitates development of more effective diagnostic and treatment algorithms.