Which ligament is primarily damaged in an inversion ankle sprain?

Inversion ankle sprains commonly result from rolling the ankle inward, which typically places stress on the lateral ligaments of the ankle. The ligament that is primarily damaged during this mechanism is the anterior talofibular ligament.

This ligament connects the talus to the fibula and plays a crucial role in stabilizing the ankle during inversion movements. When the ankle is inverted, the anterior talofibular ligament is the first to be stretched and potentially torn, leading to the symptoms associated with this type of sprain, such as pain, swelling, and instability.

Other ligaments in the area, such as the calcaneofibular ligament, can also be involved but are generally injured in more severe sprains. The deltoid ligament and the posterior talofibular ligament, which are located on the medial and posterior aspects of the ankle respectively, are not typically involved in inversion injuries, since these movements place stress on the lateral side of the ankle instead. Thus, understanding the anatomy and mechanics of an inversion sprain highlights why the anterior talofibular ligament is primarily affected during such injuries.