According to reports, tests on Monday confirmed that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a high ankle sprain during the weekend game against the Cleveland Browns. Mahomes was injured after multiple defenders hit him both high and low as he released an incomplete pass. These tests confirmed the initial evaluation, and he is reportedly week-to-week in terms of returning to play.

As football fans wait to hear when he will return to the field, we spoke to foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Edward Hur of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush who has treated many athletes with ankle injuries, especially sprains. We asked him the questions on most fans’ minds.

What exactly is a high ankle sprain?

A high ankle sprain can be a serious injury and it damages the ligaments that help stabilize the top of the ankle joint by connecting the two leg bones (tibia and fibula).  This injury is different than a standard “low ankle sprain” where the outer ligaments are damaged.  The ligaments in a high ankle sprain are typically injured when the foot turns outward with an external rotation injury and can cause swelling, bruising, pain and instability up the leg. 

What might his treatment be?

Mahomes’ early treatment undoubtedly included rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE method) and immobilization with a boot or brace. He is likely undergoing physical therapy as well. If his injury is very severe, this can lead to an unstable joint and he may need to undergo surgery to fix it.

As a professional athlete, he has access to advanced, intensive therapies such as hyperbaric chambers and altered-gravity treadmills to maintain muscle tone while he is recovering. His treatment providers may have also considered platelet-rich plasma injections and shockwave therapy or extracorporeal pulse activation therapy (EPAT).

For the average athlete, make sure to see an orthopedic doctor to determine the severity of the injury and best treatment.  Working with a physical therapist is the most common course of action to regain strength and mobility once the pain and swelling go down.

How soon do you predict he will return to the field?

It depends on the grade or severity of the injury. Because the high ankle sprain ligaments play such an important role in the ankle joint, these injuries can take twice as long to heal when compared to a standard sprain. Athletes with low-grade injuries that can put weight immediately on their ankle have a good chance of returning within 6 weeks.  Higher grade injuries can take months to recover from and if very severe, a doctor may recommend surgery to repair the damaged ligaments and instability. Recovery from surgery can range from four weeks to four months or longer for complex repairs.

He has injured this ankle before. Does that make his prognosis worse?

If he has repeated injures over time, this can lead to problems such as chronic instability.  His ankle may become vulnerable to re-injury and chronic problems that require additional treatment, rehab, bracing, or surgery. This is because the ligaments may not fully heal between injuries. With his work ethic, we should expect him to recover from this injury and hope he can avoid additional injuries moving forward in his career.