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A Mouse Model of Ankle-Subtalar Complex Joint Instability
Published on: October 28, 2022
Chronic ankle morbidity in obese children following an acute ankle injury
Nathan L Timm1, Jacqueline Grupp-Phelan, Mona L Ho
1Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039, USA. Nathan.timm@cchmc.org
Objective:
To examine the relationship between childhood obesity as measured by body mass index (BMI) and long-term morbidity after an acute ankle sprain.
Design:
Six-month prospective cohort study with follow-up telephone questionnaires at 6 weeks and 6 months.
Setting:
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center emergency department.
Patients:
Children between the ages of 8 and 18 years who presented with a chief complaint of an acute ankle injury were enrolled in the study. Children with ankle fractures were excluded. Exposed children were defined as those with a BMI in the 85th or greater percentile for age. Nonexposed children were defined as those with a BMI in the less than 85th percentile for age.
Main Outcome Measures:
Persistent symptoms of pain, swelling, or weakness; pain during or after exercise; and recurrent ankle injury.
Results:
A total of 199 children were enrolled. The exposed and nonexposed groups were similar in terms of sex, age, and ethnicity. A total of 164 (93%) had complete follow-up at 6 months. Six months after an ankle injury, children with a BMI in the 85th or greater percentile for age were more likely to sustain persistent symptoms (relative risk, 1.70; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-2.61).
Conclusion:
Overweight children are more likely to have persistent symptoms 6 months after an acute ankle sprain.
