Although ankle injuries are common, many office practices do not have commercial ankle braces readily available. A supportive ankle wrap can be readily created with two 4-inch elastic bandages (3-inch bandages in smaller patients), using the following technique:
Although ankle injuries are common, many office practices do not have commercial ankle braces readily available. A supportive ankle wrap can be readily created with two 4-inch elastic bandages (3-inch bandages in smaller patients), using the following technique:
1. Fold one bandage into fourths. Stretch this into a stirrup under the injured foot, and have the patient or an assistant hold it in place (A).
2.Wrap the second bandage proximally, using a figure-of-eight technique. Start at the ankle and work up to the top of the stirrup. Wrap it tight enough to hold the stirrup in place but not so tight as to be constricting (B).
3. Place the patient in a walking boot, hard-soled shoe, or supportive athletic shoe. The wrap should be left in place until the patient is able to walk without pain (it can be removed for showering and then rewrapped). Advise patients about signs and symptoms of venous obstruction, which can result from wrapping too tight.
-- Jarrod Mosier, MD
Tucson
-- Carol Scott, MD
Reno, Nev