Table 3.

Clinical signs and symptoms of posttraumatic ankle arthritis

Symptom	Comment
Subjective
Pain	Diffuse > focal Dull ache or sharp in character Insidious onset Variable intensity and duration Exacerbated by increased joint movement, particularly when weight bearing Improved with initial movement, rest, and joint immobilization Night pain (more common with end-stage arthritis)
Swelling	Most frequent at the end of the day and after prolonged weight bearing activity
Stiffness	Most common after prolonged inactivity Exacerbated by progression of disease Improved with movement Decreased ankle motion
Objective
Appearance	Swelling secondary to osteophytosis ± joint edema* Atrophy of adjacent muscles Joint deformity Positive talar tilt Angular deformity
Range of motion	Pain at the end of dorsiflexion and/or plantarflexion* Difference in ROM of passive plantar flexion between the injured and contralateral ankle, suggestive of obstructive anterior ostophytosis* Crepitus Muscle weakness
Palpation	Joint line tenderness

*Statistically significant for early OA in the TCJ and TNJ [19]