title: Symptomatic ossification of the tibiofibular syndesmosis in professional football players: a sequela of the syndesmotic ankle sprain.
abstract: Ankle syndesmosis sprains are common injuries in collegiate and professional football. Several reports have documented that patients with syndesmosis injuries require a longer time to return to full athletic participation than patients with lateral ankle sprains. Here we present the cases of two professional football players with ankle pain secondary to syndesmosis ossification following documented syndesmosis ankle sprains. Both patients eventually required resection of the heterotopic ossification to allow a pain-free return to football. We conclude that syndesmosis ossification may be symptomatic in some patients, and surgical excision of the ossification may be required to allow an asymptomatic return to sports.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Service, Luke AFB, Litchfield Park, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Veltri
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pagnani
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D000842:Ankle; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000150:complications*