Pediatric ankle sprains and their imitators.

Ankle injuries are common in sports, and the ankle sprain is the most common of ankle injuries, but there are many injuries that can mimic a sprain. In the skeletally immature athlete, bone injuries, particularly those that affect the physis, are more likely to occur than a ligamentous injury. Knowledge of relevant anatomy, physical exam, and appropriate imaging can assist the primary care provider in accurately diagnosing the majority of ankle injuries in the young athlete.