Case Study: Persistent Ankle Pain—The Os Trigonum Duly Considered

All emergency wards are inundated with persons who have sustained a painful ankle sprain. Those without unstable joints and malleoli fractures are usually treated by some form of immobilization, analgesia, and ordered to rest with the foot elevated. The large majority of persons recover after this treatment regime but a few continue complaining of pain exacerbated by plantarflexion and a limitation of this movement. During the last year we have noticed a considerable number of patients that have a large os trigonum. A case is described to highlight the clinical significance, the treatment, and to reflect upon the pertinent literature. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1987;8(8):402-404.