Orthopedic Surgery Practice in Dallas on How to Treat an Ankle Sprain Properly

Dallas, TX — Dr. Brian Straus is an orthopaedic surgeon in Dallas with the All-Star Orthopaedic practice. As the ankle expert at the practice, he recently discussed the diagnosis and treatment process for an ankle sprain, including how to know when the help of an orthopaedic surgeon is needed.

Dr. Straus sees a number of patients with sprained ankles at the Dallas orthopaedic surgery practice, and says the first thing he must do is determine if it is actually a sprain, and how severe the injury is: “An ankle sprain is an incident where the ankle suddenly twists or turns, causing immediate pain. Some sprains are mild and the pain resolves quickly. Others are more severe and will result in prolonged pain, limping, and swelling.” He adds that there are three types, or “grades” of sprains, ranging from a simple “over-stretching” with Grade 1, to a complete tear or rupture of the ligament with a Grade 3 injury.

When patients are trying to determine whether they need to see an orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Straus says to focus on the appearance and mobility of the ankle: “Any sprain associated with noticeable swelling, bruising, or difficulty putting weight on the leg should be evaluated by a physician. The injury can then be graded and information can be supplied in regards to estimated time for recovery.” He adds the idea of “walking-off” an injury is a thing of the past, since identifying the degree of the injury and the structure of the ankle that has been compromised is extremely important to the healing process and treatment administered.

While ankle sprain treatment at All-Star Orthopaedics is custom-tailored to the patient and injury, Dr. Straus says basic treatment is divided into specific phases:
Phase 1 is aimed at reducing swelling and protecting the injured ligaments. Ice, compression, and elevation are very important initial measures. The amount of protection (e.g. a brace, walking boot, or cast) is chosen based on which treatment will permit weight-bearing as soon as possible.
Phase 2 is dedicated to regaining range of motion and restoring strength, and begins only after swelling is down and the patient can walk without pain.
Phase 3 involves regaining position sense of the ankle to ensure the patient avoids instability issues.
Phase 4 is sport-specific and depends on the individual needs of each patient.

Despite the complex approach to defining the treatment plan, Dr. Straus says ankle sprains should not hamper patients long-term if they are properly cared for. By involving an orthopaedic surgeon from the onset of the injury, he adds that injuries to other related areas such as tendons, cartilage, or nerves, can be avoided: “While it is true that some sprains can be troublesome, the vast majority of these patients do very well. Most individuals recover from the acute injury and have no long-term problems or limitations.

About Brian E. Straus, MD

Dr. Brian Straus is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon dedicated to the continued pursuit of the latest and most effective treatments available. In addition to his medical training at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, he completed a Foot and Ankle/Sports Fellowship at the Foundation for Orthopaedic, Athletic, and Reconstructive Research. Dr. Straus is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Texas Orthopaedic Association, and the Dallas County Medical Society.

All-Star Orthopaedics has three locations: 400 W. LBJ Fwy. Ste. 300, Irving, TX 75063, available at (972) 556-2885; 910 E. Southlake Blvd., Ste. 155, Southlake, TX 76092, available at (817) 421-5000; and 3400 Prairie Road, Ste. 102, Flower Mound, TX 75022, available at (972) 556-2885. Dr. Straus and the entire All-Star team can also be contacted at www.allstarortho.com or the Dallas Orthopaedic Surgery Facebook page.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) estimates that nearly 270,000 knee replacement surgeries are performed each year in the United States. While the majority of procedures are performed on patients age 65 or older, an increasing number of younger patients are opting for knee replacement procedures as well. All-Star Orthopaedics specializes in orthopaedic surgery in Dallas, with specific emphasis on providing customized care for each patient and their individual needs and surgical expectations.

The Dallas orthopaedic surgeons at All-Star Orthopaedics say chronic knee pain due to wear and tear or a sport-related injury can affect patients of any age, which is why they offer customized, minimally invasive procedures. While the surgeons at All-Star Orthopaedics say surgery is only performed once all non-surgical remedies have been exhausted, creating a patient-specific knee replacement surgery plan allows them to address the particular concerns of each patient. The surgeons add that customized treatment, combined with individualized physical therapy and their state-of-the-art knee replacement procedures is designed to require less downtime than other related techniques.

Regardless of the type of knee pain their patients are experiencing, the orthopaedic specialists at All-Star Orthopaedics say patient-specific knee replacement surgery is sometimes the best option for substantial relief of knee pain in Dallas patients – once all other options have been discussed. Ultimately, the surgeons say the customized, minimally invasive surgical approach is a relatively quick procedure designed to give their patients a prosthetic appliance to reduce pain and discomfort, improve mobility, and resume the active lifestyle they are accustomed to.

About All-Star Orthopaedics

The doctors at All-Star Orthpaedics strive to deliver exceptional patient care in the Dallas Fort Worth area, supported by the most-advanced surgical techniques available. The orthopaedic surgeons have been educated and trained at prestigious medical institutions across the country and throughout the international community. The orthopaedic surgeons also maintain a rigorous research and publication schedule, while specializing in a variety of orthopaedic fields.

All-Star Orthopaedics has three locations dedicated throughout the state of Texas. 400 W LBJ Fwy., Suite 330 in Irving, TX 75063, which can be reached at (972) 556-2885; 910 E. Southlake Blvd., Suite 155 in Southlake, TX 76092 which can be reached at (817) 421 5000; and 3400 Long Prairie Rd., Suite 102 in Flower Mound, TX 75022, which can be reached at (972) 556-2855. All-Star Ortho can also be found online at either http://www.allstarortho.com/ or at the All-Star Orthopaedics Facebook page.

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All-Star Ortho Joins Mike Ditka for Super Bowl Weekend

All-Star Orthopaedics today announced it would join the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund (GGAF) as they expand their medical care program for former NFL players to Dallas, TX. As part of the program, All-Star Orthopaedics will provide assistance and accessible medical care, including orthopaedic surgery in Dallas, TX, to retired National Football League players who meet GGAF’s criteria to qualify.

The Dallas orthopaedic surgeons at All-Star Orthopaedics, in cooperation with the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund (GGAF), are announcing the expansion of valuable medical services to retired players of the National Football League (NFL) in Dallas, TX. All-Star Orthopaedics will attend GGAF’s Super Bowl Fundraiser “The Best Party in Texas” and be joined by a number of NFL legends, including Mike Ditka, Marv Levy, Kyle Turley, Tony Dorsett, Mel Renfro, Michael Irvin and many more.

As the Chairman of the Board for the GGAF, Mike Ditka says the organization’s mission is to assist retired NFL players in dire need of medical services for a variety of reasons, including inadequate disability coverage and pension benefits. “Our mission has been and will continue to be to help those former players and their families going through difficult times. The need is great. We welcome and are blessed to add All-Star Orthopaedics to our family of providers, as they have three extraordinary facilities in the Dallas area.”

All-Star Orthopaedics joins a growing portfolio of facilities offering pro bono surgical and medical services to GGAF members in need of a number of procedures such as knee replacement surgery and physical therapy for past injuries. Some of the former NFL players receiving assistance were pioneers of the sport — yet unable to financially support their medical needs due to the high costs of necessary treatment and inadequate private and public funding. By enlisting the support of partners like All-Star Orthopaedics, GGAF is able to provide no-cost, quality healthcare to hundreds of clients annually, for services ranging from physical therapy to patient specific knee replacement surgery.

President of the GGAF, Shannon Jordan believes the work All-Star Orthopaedic is doing says a lot about the institution, the doctors and their team. “They are willing to step up and help us fill this unquestionable need. We are truly grateful. These are remarkable people helping remarkable people who have slipped in society. Our collective goal is to get these great men and their families back on their feet.”

Committed to providing retired NFL players with the basic human services they need, GGAF offers a broad range of services including medical, pharmaceutical, housing, food, and clothing. To support its programs, the organization relies solely on corporate and private donations generated through sponsorship, special events, sports memorabilia auctions, autograph sessions, and public drives.

About All-Star Orthopaedics

All-Star Orthopaedics strives for exceptional patient care in the Dallas and Fort Worth, TX area while performing a number of services ranging from physical therapy to joint replacement. Supported by technologically advanced procedures and state-of-the-art facilities, the practice’s orthopaedic surgeons utilize the training and education they have received at some of the most prestigious institutions across the nation to provide the best care possible. In addition to specializing in a wide range of orthopaedic fields, the ortho surgeons also maintain a diverse and rigorous research and publication schedule to ensure they remain on the cutting-edge of the orthopaedic industry. The All-Star Ortho team also provides constant support for the All-Star Ortho blog, to ensure their patients are up-to-date on all the latest news associated with the practice.

All-Star Orthopaedics has three locations throughout the state of Texas. 400 W LBJ Fwy., Suite 330 in Irving, TX 75063, which can be reached at (972) 556-2885; 910 E. Southlake Blvd., Suite 155 in Southlake, TX 76092 which can be reached at (817) 421-5000; and 3400 Long Prairie Rd., Suite 102 in Flower Mound, TX 75022, which can be reached at (972) 556-2885. All-Star Ortho can also be found online at either http://www.allstarortho.com/ or at the All-Star Orthopaedics Facebook page.

About The GGAF

The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund provides hands-on assistance and financial aid to help retired NFL players deal with some of the hardships they may encounter after football. Many of these players lack funds, disability coverage or pension benefits. Thus the GGAF focuses on the humanitarian side of these players, treating them with dignity, and addressing the post-football related issues in their lives. http://www.gridirongreats.org

By providing the easily accessible and extensive network of information regarding the practice itself, as well as the orthopedic surgeons and physical therapy facilities, All-Star Ortho hopes their website will enhance the practice philosophy of placing the patient’s needs first and foremost.

Take a spin around All-Star Ortho’s new website, then contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our specialists.