{"id":24364,"date":"2025-05-21T08:37:38","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T08:37:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/utkuerdemozer.com\/ankle-cartilage-injury\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T23:29:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T20:29:51","slug":"ankle-cartilage-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.utkuerdemozer.com\/en\/ankle-cartilage-injury\/","title":{"rendered":"Ankle Cartilage Injury"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ankle cartilage injuries most frequently affect the\u00a0<\/span>cartilage surface of the talus<\/span><\/strong>, one of the main bones forming the ankle joint. This condition is medically referred to as an\u00a0<\/span>osteochondral lesion of the talus<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(OLT).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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These injuries involve damage to both the\u00a0<\/span>articular cartilage<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0and the\u00a0<\/span>underlying subchondral bone<\/span><\/strong>, with varying degrees of severity. Osteochondral lesions of the talus are commonly caused by\u00a0<\/span>trauma<\/span><\/strong>, such as ankle fractures, or by\u00a0<\/span>repetitive microtraumas<\/span><\/strong>, particularly in individuals engaged in sports and high-impact activities.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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How Is It Diagnosed?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Ankle <\/span>cartilage injuries<\/u><\/span><\/strong><\/a> are often diagnosed through a\u00a0<\/span>physical examination<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>standard X-rays<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0of the ankle. However,\u00a0<\/span>MRI<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>CT imaging<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0may be required for a more detailed evaluation, especially when initial findings are inconclusive or when planning treatment.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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What Affects Treatment Choices?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Treatment plans are tailored based on factors such as the\u00a0<\/span>patient\u2019s age<\/span><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>activity level<\/span><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>size and location of the lesion<\/span><\/strong>, and whether a\u00a0<\/span>loose fragment<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0is present in the joint.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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What Is an Ankle Cartilage Injury (Osteochondral Lesion of the Talus)?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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The ankle joint is formed by the tibia (shin bone) and the talus. This joint is known as the\u00a0<\/span>tibiotalar joint<\/span><\/strong>. In ankle cartilage injuries\u2014typically after a sprain or repetitive stress in athletes\u2014the damaged area is almost always the\u00a0<\/span>talar dome<\/span><\/strong>, the upper cartilage-covered surface of the talus bone.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In most cases, this injury involves both the\u00a0<\/span>articular cartilage<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0and the\u00a0<\/span>subchondral bone<\/span><\/strong>, and sometimes even small cysts can form beneath the cartilage surface.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Symptoms of Ankle Cartilage Injury<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    Pain in the front of the ankle<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Swelling around the ankle<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    A catching or locking sensation while walking<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Reduced range of motion in the ankle joint<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

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    These symptoms tend to worsen with weight-bearing activities like walking or standing, but are usually mild during rest. As the condition progresses\u2014especially if cartilage or bone fragments break off and move freely within the joint\u2014symptoms can become more severe.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    What Causes Ankle Cartilage Damage?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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      Ankle sprains:<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0Around 85% of ankle cartilage injuries are linked to trauma such as ankle sprains.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n