Pediatric ankle sprains and their imitators

Ankle injuries are common in sports, and the ankle sprain is the most common of ankle injuries, but there are many injuries can mimic a sprain. In the skeletally immature athlete, bone injuries, particularly those that affect the physis, are more likely to occur than a ligamentous injury. Knowledge of relevant anatomy, physical exam, and appropriate imaging can assist the primary care provider in accurately diagnosing the majority of ankle injuries in the young athlete.