Diagnosis
Peroneal tendon injuries such as subluxation or dislocation usually occur together with an ankle sprain. Tendon subluxation or dislocation is also fairly uncommon to occur on its own.
Therefore, it is important to check if structures within the ankle joint, other than the peroneal tendons, are injured to ensure proper treatment.
Individuals who experience painful ankle popping or cracking or had obtained it after an injury should see a doctor immediately as it usually indicates an injury to the peroneal tendons and other structures of the ankle.
A trained physician will make a thorough history taking and comprehensive physical examination to determine the cause of the popping or cracking of the ankle.
The doctor will ask about when the popping sound started, the movements that produce the sound, the activity being done when it was first heard or felt, the type of footwear usually worn, and the type of lifestyle and usual activities of the individual.
Some of the questions that will also be asked include the type and level of pain in the area, if the pain radiates to the lower leg or the foot, and if the swelling was immediately noted after the injury.
The doctor may passively move the affected ankle or ask the individual to actively move it to check the integrity of the joint and assess which movements are painful and produce the popping sound.
Also, the doctor will inspect if the area is tender and warm to touch, which may indicate swelling and inflammation.
The strength, range of motion, and the ability of the individual to put weight on the affected ankle will be assessed as well and compared to the unaffected ankle.
Although an X-ray will not show an injury to the peroneal tendons, the doctor may still order this to rule out any bone fractures in the ankle.
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may also be done to provide a clearer image of the tendons and determine the extent of the injury and whether other structures have been damaged.
Dr Aarti is an MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery) from Baroda Medical College (The Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda). Dr. Aarti has also completed her Masters of Medical Science and Technology from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.