title: [Ossification of the syndesmosis following trauma to the ankle].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ossification of the ankle syndesmosis can occur following trauma to the ankle. Little is known about the treatment of syndesmosis ossification.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 49-year-old man was referred to the orthopaedic outpatients' clinic by his GP with swelling on the lateral side of his right ankle. A few months earlier the patient had sustained an injury to his ankle while playing football, for which he had not been treated. X-ray examination revealed ossification of the ankle syndesmosis with an old posterior tibial fracture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patient had ossification of the right ankle syndesmosis. This type of ossification has a benign natural course and a policy of wait and see, plus pain relief, is usually sufficient. Surgical removal of the ossification should only be considered in active sportsmen and sportswomen with persistent symptoms that do not respond to conservative treatment.
authors.affiliation: University College Hospital London, afd. Orthopaedics & Trauma, Londen, Engeland. jorisajansen@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Joris A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Stefan B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Keizer
authors.forename: Bregje J W
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Thomassen
authors.forename: Ewoud R A
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: van Arkel
mesh_terms: D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000209:etiology*; D057832:Watchful Waiting