Assessment of ankle injuries.

School nurses are faced with the challenge of identifying and treating ankle injuries in the school setting. There is little information guiding the assessment and treatment of these children when an injury occurs. It is essential for school nurses to understand ankle anatomy, pathophysiology of the acute ankle injury, general and orthopedic assessment guidelines, and various treatment options to assure proper management of students with injuries to the ankle. The benefits of adhering to these guidelines are that students will receive better, cost-effective treatment and the nurse will make appropriate referral recommendations to parents and other school personnel.