Management of Rarest Type of Talus Fracture: A Case Report.

This is a case of the rarest type of talus fracture in a 28-year-old male who presented with pain in his right ankle and foot following a road traffic accident. He was unable to bear weight or walk after the injury. Imaging studies indicated fractures in the head and neck of the talus, as well as the talar dome, with a fracture line extending into the subtalar joint. The patient underwent open reduction and internal fixation using mini fragment plating and Herbert screw fixation for the osteochondral fragment. Both the intraoperative and postoperative periods were without complications. The patient was placed in plaster of Paris (POP) slab immobilization for four weeks and was advised to avoid weight-bearing while using a walker for eight weeks, after which physiotherapy commenced. Follow-up assessments showed satisfactory fracture union, good range of motion in the ankle, an excellent American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, an excellent 17-Italian Foot Function Index (FFI) score, and a good Hawkins score.

Suitability of Minced Cartilage From Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus for Immediate Autograft Reimplantation.

Background: Particulated autograft cartilage implantation is a surgical technique that has been previously described for the repair of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT). It uses cartilage fragments harvested from the OLT that are minced into 1-2-mm3 fragments and then immediately reimplanted back into the chondral defect and sealed with fibrin glue during a single-stage surgery. The purpose of this study was to characterize the suitability of these minced cartilage fragments as immediate autograft for the treatment of OLTs. Methods: Thirty-one patients undergoing primary arthroscopic surgery for their OLT consented to have their loose or damaged cartilage fragments removed and analyzed in the laboratory. Harvested specimens were minced into 1- to 2-mm3 fragments and cell count, cell density, and cell viability were determined. In addition, physical characteristics of the OLT lesion were recorded intraoperatively and analyzed including size, location, Outerbridge chondromalacia grade of the surrounding cartilage, density of underlying bone, and whether the surgeon thought the OLT was primarily hyaline or fibrocartilage. Results: An average of 419 000 cells was able to be obtained from the harvested OLT fragments. The cells were 71.2% viable after mincing. Specimens from younger patients and from lesions with worse chondromalacia adjacent to the OLT had significantly higher cell numbers. Those from lateral lesions and with worse neighboring chondromalacia had a significantly higher cell density. None of the remaining physical OLT characteristics studied seemed to significantly affect cell number or viability. Conclusion: A large number of viable cells are available for immediate autografting by removing the loose or damaged cartilage from an OLT and mincing it into 1- to 2-mm3 fragments. These can be reimplanted into the chondral defect in a single-stage surgery. Future clinical studies are needed to determine if the addition of these live autologous cells either alone or in conjunction with other techniques significantly improves the quality of the repair tissue and clinical outcomes. Level of Evidence: Level IV, case series.

Morphological characteristics of talocalcaneal coalitions: Anatomical observation, finite element analysis and clinical application.

BACKGROUND: The intricate anatomical structure of talocalcaneal coalitions (TCCs) presents significant challenges for clinicians in both diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to investigate the anatomy, imaging characteristics, and biomechanical properties of TCCs, providing essential references for contemporary clinical diagnosis, treatment, scientific research, and education regarding TCCs. METHODS: The morphologies of TCCs were examined and classified in intact dry osseous specimens from 131 Asian adults. The imaging characteristics of TCCs were summarized by carefully observing the X-rays and CT scans. Additionally, finite element models of TCCs were established and validated, allowing for the simulation and analysis of stress and strain. RESULTS: The TCCs were primarily located in the region between the posterior end of sustentaculum tali (ST), the medial port of the tarsal canal, and the medial edge of the posterior talar articular surface (PTF). In comparison to specimens with cartilage and ligament connections, the medial tubercle of osseous connections exhibited significant inward and downward protrusion, while the ST was longer and thicker. Statistically significant differences were noted in the widths of the calcaneus and talus, as well as in the thickness and length of the ST (P < 0.05). CT imaging provided an accurate determination of TCCs' locations, while X-rays revealed the presence of the "C sign" and "duck beak sign" in all osseous connection specimens. Finite element model analysis indicated that stress was primarily concentrated at the osseous connection, which also reduced displacement of the subtalar joint. CONCLUSIONS: The comprehension of the precise location, anatomical morphological characteristics, imaging features and finite element mechanical properties of TCCs is instrumental in enhancing the diagnosis and treatment of TCCs.

Proposed Classification of Syndesmotic Soft Tissue Impingement and Its Association With Lateral Talar Cartilage Lesions.

BACKGROUND: Syndesmotic impingement syndrome has been described to explain persistent lateral or anterolateral ankle pain. This condition is thought to often result from a rotational ankle injury. This study aimed to identify the type of syndesmotic impingement tissue according to arthroscopic and histologic findings and to analyze its association with lateral talar cartilage lesions. METHODS: This retrospective study included 107 ankles in 105 patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery for syndesmotic impingement syndrome from January 2017 to August 2019. Histologic findings of biopsied impingement tissue were obtained in 59 ankles (55.1%) and compared with gross findings on arthroscopy. Cartilage lesions were evaluated using the International Cartilage Repair Society grading system. Risk factors associated with lateral talar cartilage injury were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Based on the histologic results, the most common pathology was fibrosis (24 ankles [22.4%]), followed by fatty degeneration (23 ankles [21.5%]), synovial hyperplasia (8 ankles [7.5%]), and inflammatory synovium (4 ankles [3.7%]). Interclass correlation coefficient was 0.841 (P = .001) between histologic results and arthroscopic findings. Patients with fibrotic impingement tissue had on average a significantly longer duration of symptoms (12 vs 48 months, P = .021). A lateral talar dome cartilage lesion was detected in 25 ankles (23.4%). Fibrotic impingement tissue was the only factor significantly associated with lateral talar dome lesion on multivariate logistic regression analysis (odds ratio 10.04; 95% CI 1.84-54.9; P = .008). CONCLUSION: Syndesmotic impingement with fibrotic tissue was often associated with cartilage lesions at the lateral talar dome. Patients with prolonged anterolateral or lateral ankle pain after a rotational ankle injury warrant careful assessment for possible syndesmotic impingement by fibrotic tissue and associated lateral talar cartilage injury.

Medial talonavicular-calcaneal fracture-dislocation in an adolescent: A challenging traumatic association (case report).

INTRODUCTION: Talus fractures in children are rare, with a prevalence of 0.008 % of all pediatric fractures. Subtalar dislocation accounts for 1 % of dislocations in trauma cases, making this combination extremely rare. CASE PRESENTATION: 14-year-old patient suffered an isolated, uncomplicated closed injury to the right ankle from an accident. X-Ray showed an medial subtalar dislocation and a Hawkins stage III fracture of the talar neck. One hour post-trauma, reduction was performed under general anesthesia using Bootjack Technique, and the ankle was immobilized with a plaster cast. The reduction was confirmed by CT-scan. Given the satisfactory anatomical reduction and maintained articular congruence, orthopedic treatment approach was indicated. After 06 weeks of immobilization, physiotherapy sessions were initiated. The patient did not experience any functional impairment and resumed sports activities 03 months post-trauma. DISCUSSION: According to the literature, closed subtalar fracture-dislocation, has not been previously described in the pediatric population. Diagnosing dislocation is straightforward, with treatment involving reduction through a boot jack maneuver. If a fracture is present, irreducibility should raise suspicion of interposition, requiring open reduction. While surgical treatment is often used, it increases the risk of ischemia. Orthopedic treatment remains a reliable and effective option, particularly in children, as it allows quicker management and avoids iatrogenic complications. CONCLUSION: Subtalar fracture-dislocation in children is rare, and its management is not standardized. However, it is crucial to consider and identify this type of injury due to its rarity and significant risk of complications. Appropriate management is essential to accelerate treatment and avoid the risk of talar necrosis.

An Evidence-Based Update on Fixation Procedures for Acute and Chronic Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus.

Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) involve the subchondral bone and the overlying articular cartilage. Various surgical treatments for these lesions are available, such as bone marrow stimulation (BMS), autologous osteochondral grafting, and fixation of an osteochondral fragment. Treatment choice depends on the condition of the lesion, which includes lesion size, morphology, location, and the presence of cysts. Among the surgical procedures available to date, in situ fixation of the osteochondral fragment has the advantage of restoring the articular surface while preserving the native hyaline cartilage and its subchondral bone. Fixation for OLT has been shown to be clinically successful for the treatment of both acute and chronic lesions. Moreover, the indication for osteochondral fragment fixation is expanding as recent studies have found good clinical outcomes in relatively small-sized lesions. The present article describes the current evidence on fixation for acute and chronic OLT.

Total Talus Allograft Transplantation With Subtalar Arthrodesis for Missing Talus: A Report of a Rare Case.

Post-traumatic missing talus is a rare and severe injury that often results in poor functional outcomes, with no consensus on the optimal treatment approach as strategies vary based on injury severity. We present the case of a 44-year-old male who sustained a missing talus following a high-energy motorcycle accident. After initial wound management and application of an external fixator, the patient underwent size-matched, fresh-frozen talus allograft transplantation combined with subtalar fusion. Postoperative radiography and CT confirmed successful transplantation with solid subtalar fusion, although progressive osteonecrosis was noted in the medial shoulder region of the talus. At the two-year follow-up, the patient exhibited limited ankle and hindfoot motion but was able to bear weight and walk without assistance, reporting no pain in his feet and achieving a final American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society hindfoot score of 72. This case underscores the potential of total talar allograft transplantation with subtalar arthrodesis in treating severe talar bone loss or missing talus, although long-term follow-up is necessary to assess the clinical implications of medial talar collapse and the possible need for revision surgery.

Talar head fractures: An observational study of 33 talar head fractures derived from the Swedish Fracture Register.

BACKGROUND: Reports in the literature on talar head fractures are rare and limited to case reports and small case series. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: This study aimed to describe a national cohort of talar head fractures for fracture characteristics, associated injuries, treatment, and reoperations. METHODS: We reviewed all radiographs of patients enrolled in the SFR between 2011 and 2021 showing talar head fractures (AO/OTA 81-A3). We excluded those with talar head avulsion fractures, misclassified, multiple registrations, or with a privacy notice in their medical records. The cohort was reviewed using medical records and radiographs at a minimum 2-year follow-up. RESULTS: The study included 32 patients (33 fractures) ≥18 years of age. The median age was 32 (range 18-65) years, 84 % were men, and the main trauma mechanisms were motor vehicle accidents (28 %) and falls from heights (28 %) and graded as high-energy injuries in 50 % of the cases. 18 (55 %) were displaced and 15 (45 %) had comminuted fractures. 14 talar head fractures (42 %) had multiple injuries to the same foot. 21 patients (66 %) underwent surgical treatment, most commonly with screw fixation. Surgery was performed in 15 of 18 patients with displaced fractures. Four patients were reoperated, one with arthrodesis of the talonavicular joint and three for implant removal. No cases of avascular necrosis were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Talar head fractures are rare and occur mainly in men. They are associated with other foot injuries. Most talar head fractures are treated operatively. In this case series, we did not identify any case of avascular necrosis. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective observational cohort study.

Total ankle/total talus replacement - Retrospective comparison of surgeon decision relative to three-dimensional joint health assessment.

Treatment of end-stage ankle conditions is a complex challenge in foot and ankle surgery. The talus is prone to issues such as osteoarthritis (OA) and avascular necrosis (AVN). Patient-specific total ankle and total talus replacement (TATTR) procedures have emerged as potential solutions, but the decision to include subtalar arthrodesis in these surgeries is multifaceted. In this study, we aimed to understand the relationship between past surgeon decisions for fusion with TATTR and three-dimensional joint health assessments using preoperative CT data. Twenty-seven TATTR with subtalar fusion and 19 TATTR without subtalar fusion were analyzed. Each patient underwent a bilateral computed tomography scan, which was segmented prior to surgery. Distance mapping of various subtalar regions was performed, and average distance was reported. For better analysis, the sinus tarsi was divided into four sectors and the calcaneus posterior facet into nine sectors. Statistical analysis involved calculating the difference in means between the fused and unfused cases. The fusion group exhibited significant joint space narrowing in the posterolateral aspect of the sinus tarsi (p = 0.021). Conversely, on the posterior facet of the subtalar joint, the fusion group showed significant joint space widening in both the anteromedial (p = 0.025) and middle/medial (p = 0.032) sections. Surgeons' decision to perform subtalar arthrodesis in TATTR procedures often aligns with clinical signs of sinus tarsi impingement, as evidenced by significant changes in joint space measurements. While joint health assessments play a pivotal role, other factors, such as surgeon preference and patient-specific considerations, also influence decision-making.

Autologous osteoperiosteal transplantation for cystic osteochondral lesions of the talus: Bone reconstruction is essential.

PURPOSE: Autologous osteoperiosteal transplantation (AOPT) is one of the most feasible and effective techniques for cystic osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT). However, few reports have been reported about the process of graft-host bone healing and bone articular surface reconstruction, which help us to further understand the actual situation of bone healing and modify surgical methods. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 33 osteochondral lesions in 30 patients undertaking AOPT for OLT with subchondral cysts from December 2016 to October 2021. According to CT observation, we used 4 variables to describe the bony articular repair, including the integration of the articular surface, the height of the bone filling, the status of bone union, and the appearance of bone resorption or cystic change. We also analyzed the demographic data and clinical function. Descriptive statistics were used for demographic and clinical variables. Normally distributed data were presented as mean ± SD, and non-normally distributed data were presented as median (Q1, Q3). Associations between these variables and the primary clinical outcomes were examined using t-test or one-way ANOVA test for continuous variables. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was (41.7 ± 14.0) years old and the mean follow-up time was (29.6 ± 17.8) months. The chondral lesion size was (14.3 ± 4.1) mm. The cyst depth was (10.9 ± 3.7) mm. Significant improvements were observed in functional outcomes (according to the numeric rating scale for pain when walking and the American orthopedic foot and ankle society score) between the preoperative and latest follow-up evaluations, from 4.2 ± 2.1 to 2.2 ± 2.0 (p < 0.001), and from 66.8 ± 12.9 to 83.2 ± 10.4, respectively (p < 0.001). The overall satisfaction reached 8.3 of 10 points. All patients returned to sports and their median daily steps reached 8000 steps with 27 (81.8%) patients walking over 6000 steps daily. According to CT observation, "discontinuous bony articular surface and gap > 1 mm" was found in 27 grafts (81.8%), and "below the level of the adjacent articular surface, ≤ 1 mm" in a third of the grafts. Abnormal height of bone filling affected numeric rating scale score (p = 0.049) and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society score (p = 0.027). Of note, bone resorption or cystic changes appeared in up to 13 autografts (39.4%). CONCLUSIONS: AOPT is an effective and acceptable technique for cystic OLT. Bone reconstruction is essential for large cystic OLT. How to get better bony articular reconstruction and avoid cyst recurrence should still be paid more attention.

Outcomes of Osteochondral Autologous Transplantation with Ipsilateral Lateral Talar Autograft for Medial Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus.

Background: Osteochondral autologous transplantation (OAT) has been widely used in the treatment of osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT). Previous studies have reported successful outcomes following the use of osteochondral autogenous grafts from the intercondylar notch of the knee or a non-weight-bearing region of the femoral condyle. However, donor-site morbidity of the knee joint has been observed in several cases. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes and safety of OAT with autografts from the ipsilateral lateral talar articular facet as an alternative donor site for medial OLT. Methods: Among 40 patients who underwent OAT, 29 patients were excluded. Eleven patients who underwent OAT with an osteochondral graft harvested from the ipsilateral lateral talar articular facet from 2011 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The size of OLT was measured on ankle magnetic resonance imaging, including coronal length, sagittal length, depth, and area. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scale and a visual analog scale (VAS). Weight-bearing ankle radiographs were obtained postoperatively and at 1 year after surgery. Results: The average follow-up time after surgery was 64.7 months (range, 14-137 months). The average diameter of lesions was 8.8 mm (range, 8-9.9 mm). The average size of lesions was 51.2 mm2 (range, 33.6-71.3 mm2) , and all lesions included subchondral cysts. The average depth of lesions was 7.3 mm (range, 6.2-9.1 mm). Graft sizes ranged from 8 to 10 mm in diameter (8 mm, n = 1; 10 mm, n = 10) All measured clinical outcomes improved postoperatively, including the AOFAS scores (preoperative, 55.4 ± 9.0; 1-year follow-up, 92.1 ± 7.6; p = 0.001) and VAS scores (preoperative, 5.5 ± 0.7; 1-year follow-up, 1.9 ± 0.8; p = 0.001). All weight-bearing ankle radiographs of the graft and donor sites did not reveal arthritic change in the ankle joint, lateral talar dome collapse, and graft-site delayed union or nonunion at 1 year after surgery. Conclusions: For a single medial OLT, harvesting autografts from the ipsilateral lateral talar articular facet without knee donor-site morbidities can be a good alternative in OAT for OLT.

Weight-Bearing CT for Diseases around the Ankle Joint.

Weight-bearing computed tomography (WBCT) enables acquisition of three-dimensional bony structure images in a physiological weight-bearing position, which is fundamental in understanding the pathologic lesions and deformities of the ankle joint. Over the past decade, researchers have focused on validating and developing WBCT measurements, which has significantly enhanced our knowledge of common foot and ankle diseases. Consequently, understanding the application of WBCT in clinical practice is becoming more important to produce improved outcomes in the treatment of disease around the ankle joint. This review will describe an overview of what is currently being evaluated in foot and ankle surgery using WBCT and where the course of research will be heading in the future.

En bloc resection and reconstruction using a talar prosthesis for malignant talar bone tumor: a surgical technique.

En bloc resection is required for treatment of intermediate-grade talar tumors with extraosseous extension (Enneking stage 3) and malignant talar tumors without intra-articular invasion (Enneking stages IA and IIA). After resection, reconstruction options include tibiocalcaneal fusion, frozen autograft, and talar prosthesis; however, a talar prosthesis is preferable because it preserves ankle range of motion, does not cause leg length discrepancy, and is associated with good long-term outcomes. To the best of our knowledge, en bloc resection and reconstruction of a malignant talar tumor has not been previously reported in detail. We report a detailed surgical technique for en bloc resection of a malignant talar bone tumor using combined anterior and lateral approaches followed by reconstruction using a talar prosthesis.

Dysplasia Epiphysealis Hemimelica (Trevor Disease) of the Talus in a Toddler: A Case Report With a Long Follow-up.

Visual AbstractThis is a visual representation of the abstract.

Surgical treatment for medium-sized cystic osteochondral lesions of the talus: Autologous osteoperiosteal transplantation provides better clinical outcomes than bone marrow stimulation when cysts are deeper than 6 mm.

PURPOSE: To compare clinical outcomes of autologous osteoperiosteal transplantation versus bone marrow stimulation (BMS) for medium-sized (100-150 mm2) cystic osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) and assess the correlation between patient demographics and outcomes. It was hypothesised that autologous osteoperiosteal transplantation would provide better clinical outcomes than BMS for medium-sized cystic OLTs. METHODS: Patients who underwent autologous osteoperiosteal transplantation or BMS for medium-sized cystic OLTs between 2014 and 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. According to their characteristics, a 1:1 propensity-score matching was performed and 33 pairs of patients were matched. The visual analogue scale, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, Foot Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and Ankle Activity Score were collected preoperatively and at the last follow-up. In addition, a general linear model analysis was performed between patient demographics and clinical outcomes in two groups separately to detect potential risk factors. RESULTS: Finally, 28 patients in the grafted group and 27 patients in the BMS group completed the follow-up and were enrolled with a mean follow-up period of 63.5 ± 13.9 months. Both groups showed significant improvement in all patient-reported outcomes (p < 0.01). At the final follow-up, no significant differences between groups were found in all postoperative scores except FAOS Pain (p = 0.02). Correlation analysis showed a moderate correlation between cyst depth and the postoperative AOFAS score in the BMS group (r = -0.48, p = 0.01). Based on the regression line, the patients in the BMS group with a cyst deeper than 6 mm showed a lower AOFAS score than the mean score (88.7 ± 9.5) of the grafted group. CONCLUSION: Autologous osteoperiosteal transplantation and BMS are both safe and effective for medium-sized cystic OLTs. However, autologous osteoperiosteal transplantation is expected to provide better clinical outcomes than BMS when the cysts are deeper than 6 mm. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Outcomes of cobalt-chrome 3D-printed total talus replacement with and without combined total ankle replacement.

BACKGROUND: Collapse of the talus and peri-talar arthritis pose treatment challenges due to the anatomy and location of the talus as a keystone of the foot and ankle. Custom 3D-printed total talus replacement (TTR) and combined total ankle total talus replacement (TATTR) have emerged as treatment options for these pathologies. However, the safety and efficacy of these implants is unknown due to the limited number of cases and short follow-up durations. METHODS: This was a retrospective study to assess surgical outcomes of patients who underwent a TTR and TATTR with or without subtalar fusion. Patient demographics, intraoperative parameters, device related surgical and non-surgical events, imaging and clinical evaluations, and patient reported outcome (PRO) measures were compiled. RESULTS: A total of 38 patients received a custom 3D-printed implant with mean follow-up time of 22.1 (range: 12-45) months. In this cohort, 7 (18.4 %) required secondary surgery and 3 (7.9 %) required implant removal. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that patient diagnosis of depression was a significant predictor of secondary surgery with an OR 17.50 (p = 0.037). Significant postoperative improvements were observed in the talocalcaneal height (p = 0.005) and talar declination angle (p = 0.013) for the TATTR group. VAS and PROMIS pain interference (PI) scores demonstrated an initial significant improvement in pain, but this improvement did not maintain significance at most recent follow-up. However, there was a significant increase in the PROMIS physical function (PF) scores (p = 0.037) at most recent follow-up. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that TTR and TATTR provide significant improvement in post-operative radiographic foot and ankle alignment and physical function at the two-year timepoint. PRO findings suggest that patients are more active after surgery. Surgeons considering proceeding with either of these procedures should counsel patients about pain and functional outcomes as well as realistic expectations in patients with depression. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3.

Designing and additive manufacturing of talus implant for post-traumatic talus avascular necrosis: a case study.

New technologies in additive manufacturing and patient-specific CT-based custom implant designs make it possible for previously unimaginable salvage and limb-sparing operations a practical reality. This study presents the design and fabrication of a lattice-structured implant for talus replacement surgery. Our primary case involved a young adult patient who had sustained severe damage to the talus, resulting in avascular necrosis and subsequent bone collapse. This condition caused persistent and debilitating pain, leading the medical team to consider amputation of the left foot at the ankle level as a last resort. Instead, we proposed a Ti6Al4V-based patient-specific implant with lattice structure specifically designed for pan-talar fusion. Finite element simulation is conducted to estimate its performance. To ensure its mechanical integrity, uniaxial compression experiments were conducted. The implant was produced using selective laser melting technology, which allowed for precise and accurate construction of the unique lattice structure. The patient underwent regular monitoring for a period of 24 months. At 2-years follow-up the patient successfully returned to activities without complication. The patient's functional status was improved, limb shortening was minimized.

Clinical and radiological outcomes of ankle joint preserving surgical reconstruction for talar neck non-unions-A series of 8 cases.

BACKGROUND: Talar neck non-unions result in significant hindfoot deformity and morbidity and are infrequently reported in the literature. The optimal surgical management for this condition is evolving, with various authors reporting the results of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with bone grafting (BG), ankle fusion and modified Blair fusion. We performed this study to report the clinical and radiological outcomes of a cohort of talar neck non-unions managed by ankle joint preserving reconstruction. METHODS: This was an ambispective study which included 8 patients (7 male and 1 female) with talar neck non-unions. All patients underwent ORIF+BG through dual approaches. Additional medial malleolar osteotomy was done in 2 cases, and calcaneofibular split approach to the subtalar joint in 3. Adjunct subtalar fusion was done in 5 cases. Clinical and radiological evaluation was performed pre- and post-operatively. Functional outcomes were assessed by the Manchester Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOxFQ). RESULTS: The mean age of patients 32.3 ± 13.1 years. The mean surgical delay was 4.1 ± 1.7 months. As per Zwipp and Rammelt classification of post-traumatic talar deformities, 5 cases were classified as Type 3, 2 were Type 4, and 1 was Type 1. Union was achieved in 7 cases at a mean of 3.4 ± 1.3 months. One case had progressive collapse, which was managed by pantalar arthrodesis. All 3 cases where subtalar fusion was not performed primarily demonstrated subtalar arthrosis, but none required a secondary subtalar fusion. The MOxFQ score from 61.1 ± 10.1 to 41 ± 14.1 postoperatively (P = 0.005). The mean follow-up was 14.6 ± 6.8 months. CONCLUSION: ORIF+BG of the talar neck, with or without subtalar fusion has the potential to achieve solid union, correct the hindfoot deformity and improve functional outcomes. However, larger studies with longer follow-up are needed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of this procedure.

Effects of Preoperative Abnormality of Posterior Tibial Tendon on the Surgical Outcomes of Medial Osteochondral Lesion of the Talus.

BACKGROUND: Although surgical treatment for osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) can obtain good clinical outcomes, the rate of return to sports is variable. It is reported that medial OLT unrelated to trauma has abnormal structures in the medial aspect, which may induce the medial OLT due to the medial instability. The posterior tibial tendon (PTT) plays an important role in the stabilization of the foot, and high mechanical stress may be added to the PTT to compensate for medial instability in medial OLT. We investigated whether abnormal PTT findings on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with OLT affect clinical outcomes after surgery.  Methods: Eighty-one ankles in 74 patients who were treated surgically for OLT were included in this study (41 men and 33 women; mean age, 26.0 years). Abnormalities of the PTT were evaluated using preoperative MRI. The Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot (JSSF) scale, arch height, and ankle activity score (AAS) on standing plain radiogram were compared between patients with and those without preoperative PTT abnormalities. RESULTS: Twenty-five ankles (30.9%) had PTT abnormalities on preoperative MRI. All patients with preoperative PTT abnormalities were medial OLT. There were no significant differences in the preoperative JSSF scale in the procedures for OLT. The postoperative JSSF scale and arch height were significantly lower in patients with preoperative PTT abnormalities than those without them. AAS in patients with preoperative abnormalities significantly decreased at the final follow-up.  Conclusion: PTT abnormalities on preoperative MRI may affect clinical outcomes even in preoperative asymptomatic patients in the medial OLT unrelated to trauma.

The severity of preoperative bone marrow oedema negatively influences short-term clinical outcomes following arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation for osteochondral lesions of the talus.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to study the effects of the severity of preoperative bone marrow oedema (BME) on the postoperative short-term outcomes following bone marrow stimulation (BMS) for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) and to propose a new metric that combines volume and signal density to evaluate BME. METHODS: Sixty-five patients with symptomatic OLTs (<100 mm2) and preoperative BME, who received BMS in our institution from April 2017 to July 2021 with follow-ups of 3, 6 and 12 months, were analysed retrospectively. The area, volume and signal value of the BME were collected on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging. The enroled patients were divided into two groups according to the BME index (BMEI), which was defined as the product of oedema relative signal intensity and the relation of oedema volume to total talar volume. Visual analogue scale, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), Tegner, Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM)-activities of daily living (ADL) and Sports scores were assessed before surgery and at each follow-up. The relationship between the scores and the volume, relative signal intensity and BMEI was explored. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients with preoperative BME were divided into the mild (n = 33) and severe (n = 32) groups based on the BMEI. A significant difference was found for each score with the general linear model for repeated measures through all follow-up time points (p < 0.001). For the preoperative and 12-month postoperative changes of the enroled patients, 53 patients (81.5%) exceeded the minimal clinically important difference of AOFAS and 26 (40.0%) exceeded that of FAAM-sports in this study. The mild group showed significantly more improvement in AOFAS scores at 12 months (89.6 ± 7.0 vs. 86.2 ± 6.2) and FAAM-ADL scores at 6 months (83.6 ± 7.6 vs. 79.7 ± 7.7) and 12 months (88.5 ± 8.5 vs. 84.4 ± 7.7) than the severe group (p < 0.05). No significant difference of all the scores between the groups was found at 3 months. No significant correlation was found in each group between BMEI and clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: The severity of the preoperative BME negatively affected short-term clinical outcomes following arthroscopic BMS for OLTs. Worse clinical outcomes were shown at postoperative 6 and 12 months in patients with a high preoperative BMEI, which could be a favourable parameter for assessing the severity of BME and assist in developing personalised rehabilitation plans and determining the approach and timing of surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.