Which test is used to assess high ankle sprain among the listed special tests?

Which test is used to assess high ankle sprain among the listed special tests?

• A. Anterior drawer test
• B. Lachman test
• C. Talar tilt test
• D. Squeeze test

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is identifying injuries to the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis, which is what a high ankle sprain involves. The squeeze test directly targets that area by compressing the calf bones together. As you squeeze the mid-calf, the tibia and fibula are loaded against each other at the distal joint, and if the syndesmosis is injured, this stress usually reproduces pain around the distal tibiofibular area. That pain pattern is what points toward a high ankle sprain. In contrast, the anterior drawer test gauges the stability of the anterior talofibular ligament (a lateral ankle ligament), the Lachman test checks knee ACL integrity, and the talar tilt test stresses the lateral ligaments (ATFL and CFL) by inversion. These tests aren’t specific for the syndesmosis, so they’re not the best choices when you’re evaluating a suspected high ankle sprain.

The key idea here is identifying injuries to the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis, which is what a high ankle sprain involves. The squeeze test directly targets that area by compressing the calf bones together. As you squeeze the mid-calf, the tibia and fibula are loaded against each other at the distal joint, and if the syndesmosis is injured, this stress usually reproduces pain around the distal tibiofibular area. That pain pattern is what points toward a high ankle sprain.

In contrast, the anterior drawer test gauges the stability of the anterior talofibular ligament (a lateral ankle ligament), the Lachman test checks knee ACL integrity, and the talar tilt test stresses the lateral ligaments (ATFL and CFL) by inversion. These tests aren’t specific for the syndesmosis, so they’re not the best choices when you’re evaluating a suspected high ankle sprain.