Evaluation of the functional and radiologic outcomes in talus fractures following surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The long-term outcome of talus fractures is not yet sufficiently favorable despite improved resources and growing experience. With increasing fracture severity, the complication rate increases. This study aimed to evaluate the mid-to-long-term clinical and radiologic outcomes using the scoring system and imaging archive in patients with talus fractures who were surgically treated in our hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The mid- to long-term outcomes of patients with talus fractures admitted to Aydin Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine Hospital between January 2010 and December 2020 and treated surgically were analyzed using satisfaction and functional scoring systems. RESULTS: Demographic data of the patients enrolled in our study indicated that talus fractures primarily developed in young males (p<0.05). The scores obtained from American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) scoring were consistent with patients' long-term consequences, such as avascular necrosis and post-traumatic arthritis (p<0.05). The rates of avascular necrosis and post-traumatic arthritis were lower, whereas AOFAS scores were higher in patients in whom the reduction quality was within the exact anatomical limits (p<0.05). The Hawkins sign had a positive predictive significance in patients free of avascular necrosis (p<0.05). Higher AOFAS scores were observed in patients treated with a single surgical incision (p<0.05). The timing of the surgery did not influence the results (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of patients treated surgically for talus fracture depended on the quality of reduction. In the mid-to-long term, the satisfaction scores of our patients with talus fractures who had undergone surgical treatment were rated as moderate.

Osteochondral Lesion of the Talus: Quality of Life, Lesion Site, and Lesion Size.

Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) are the lesions that affect the articular cartilage and the subchondral bone of the talus. Symptoms develop between 6 and 12 months after the index trauma and are associated with degradation of quality of life. Two-thirds of the lesions (73%) are located on the medial part of the talus, 28% of the lesions are posteromedial, and 31% of the lesions are centromedial. Currently, OLT of up to 100 mm2 can behave in a more indolent condition, and above that area, the defect tends to transmit more shearing forces to adjacent cartilage and is more symptomatic.

Deformity Correction: Do Osteochondral Lesion of the Talus and Tibia Change After Realignment Surgery?

Malalignment of the lower limb, distal tibia, foot, and hindfoot can all contribute to altered biomechanics in the ankle joint, resulting in increased focal pressure. The development of some osteochondral lesions of the ankle joint may share a similar pathophysiology, where eccentric loading to the talus or tibia within the ankle joint can lead to cartilage injury or adaptive changes. While the association between malalignment and the development of osteochondral lesions of the ankle joint may seem intuitive, the impact of realignment procedures on these lesions and patient symptoms remains a relatively underexplored topic in the literature. A comprehensive understanding of the potential role of realignment surgery in managing osteochondral lesions of the talus and tibia is crucial for advancing our knowledge of this challenging pathologic condition.

Regeneration: Bone-Marrow Stimulation of the Talus-Limits and Goals.

Bone Marrow Stimulation of osteochondral lesions of the talus has been shown to be a successful way to treat cartilage injuries. Newer data suggest that Bone Marrow Stimulation is best reserved for osteochondral lesions of the talus Sizes Less Than 107.4 mm2 in area. Additionally, newer smaller and deeper techniques to perform bone marrow stimulation have resulted in less subchondral bone damage, less cancellous compaction, and superior bone marrow access with multiple trabecular access channels. Biologic adjuvants such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), hyaluronic acid (HA), and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) may lead to better functional outcomes when used concomitant to bone marrow stimulation.

Fresh Osteochondral Allograft for Large Talar Osteochondral Lesions.

Osteochondral lesions of the talus are being recognized as an increasingly common injury. Large osteochondral lesions have significant biomechanical consequences and often require resurfacing with both boney and cartilaginous graft. The current treatment options include osteochondral autograft transfer, mosaicplasty, autologous chondrocyte implantation, or osteochondral allograft transplantation. Allograft procedures have the advantage of no donor site morbidity and ability to match the defect line to line. Careful transportation, storage, and handling of the allograft are critical to success. The failure of nonoperative management, failure of arthroscopic treatment, or large defects are an indication for resurfacing.

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Osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) is a localized cartilage and subchondral bone injury of the talus trochlea. OLT is caused by trauma and other reasons, including osteochondritis dissecans of the talus (OCD) and talus osteochondral tangential fracture. OLT can develop from being asymptomatic to subchondral bone cysts accompanied by deep ankle pain. OLT tends to occur on the medial and lateral sides of the talar vault. OLT seriously affects the patients' life and work and may even lead to disability. Herein, we reviewed advances in the treatment of OLT and the strengths and weaknesses of various treatments. Different treatment methods, including conservative treatments and surgical treatments, can be adopted according to the different subtypes or clinical symptoms of OLT. Conservative treatments mostly relieve symptoms in the short term and only slow down the disease. In recent years, it has been discovered that platelet-rich plasma injection, microfracture, periosteal bone grafting, talar cartilage transplantation, allograft bone transplantation, reverse drilling under robotic navigation, and other methods can achieve considerable benefits when each of these treatment methods is applied. Furthermore, microfracture combined with platelet-rich plasma injections, microfracture combined with cartilage transplantation, and various other treatment methods combined with anterior talofibular ligament repair have all led to good treatment outcomes.

Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus: Etiology, Clinical Presentation, Treatment Options, and Outcomes.

This article reviews the etiology, clinical presentation, classification schemes, and treatment options for osteochondral lesions of the talus. These lesions typically occur after a traumatic injury and are best diagnosed on MRI. Asymptomatic lesions and incidentally found lesions are best treated conservatively; however, acute displaced osteochondral fragments may require surgical treatment. Lesion characteristics may dictate surgical technique. Outcomes following surgical treatment may be impacted by patient age, BMI, and lesion characteristics.

Fixation of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus: Indications, Techniques, Outcomes, and Pearls from the Amsterdam Perspective.

The treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) remains a topic of debate as no superior treatment has yet been identified. The current consensus is that it is crucial to incorporate lesion and patient characteristics into the treatment algorithm. One such lesion type is the OLT with a fragment, which may benefit from in situ fixation. Fixation preserves the native hyaline cartilage and offers a direct stabilization of the fragment with high-quality subchondral bone repair. This current concepts review describes the evidence-based clinical work-up, indications, surgical techniques, outcomes, and clinical pearls for fixation techniques of OLT from the Amsterdam perspective.

Ankle Instability: Facts and Myths to Protect Your Cartilage Repairing.

The majority of patients with an osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) report a history of trauma. Therefore, it is important to assess for concomitant ankle instability when dealing with patients with a symptomatic OLT. The History; Alignment; Ligaments; Others "(HALO)" approach can be a helpful tool in the evaluation of patients with an OLT. If conservative treatment fails, surgery may be indicated. Although there is a lack of comparative studies investigating the effect of stabilization procedures on cartilage repair, we believe that addressing instability is a key factor in improving patient outcome.

Talar Neck Fractures With Associated Ipsilateral Foot and Ankle Fractures Have a Higher Risk of Avascular Necrosis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if talar neck fractures with concomitant ipsilateral foot and/or ankle fractures (TNIFAFs) are associated with higher rates of avascular necrosis (AVN) compared with isolated talar neck fractures (ITNs). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: Single level I trauma center. PATIENT SELECTION CRITERIA: Skeletally mature patients who sustained talar neck fractures from January 2008 to January 2017 with at least 6-month follow-up. Based on radiographs at the time of injury, fractures were classified as ITN or TNIFAF and by Hawkins classification. OUTCOME MEASURES AND COMPARISONS: The primary outcome was the development of AVN based on follow-up radiographs, with secondary outcomes including nonunion and collapse. RESULTS: There were 115 patients who sustained talar neck fractures, with 63 (55%) in the ITN group and 52 (45%) in the TNIFAF group. In total, 63 patients (54.7%) were female with the mean age of 39 years (range, 17-85), and 111 fractures (96.5%) occurred secondary to high-energy mechanisms of injury. There were no significant differences in demographic or clinical characteristics between groups ( P > 0.05). Twenty-four patients (46%) developed AVN in the TNIFAF group compared with 19 patients (30%) in the ITN group ( P = 0.078). After adjusting for Hawkins classification and other variables, the odds of developing AVN was higher in the TNIFAF group compared with the ITN group [odds ratio, 2.43 (95% confidence interval, 1.01-5.84); ( P = 0.047)]. CONCLUSIONS: This study found a significantly higher likelihood of AVN in patients with talar neck fractures with concomitant ipsilateral foot and/or ankle fractures compared to those with isolated talar neck fractures after adjusting for Hawkins classification and other potential prognostic confounders. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Three-dimensional Mapping Analysis of Talus Fractures and Demonstration of Different Surgical Approaches for Talus Fractures.

OBJECTIVE: The talus is an important component in the ankle, and its treatment after injury is crucial. However, complications and adverse events due to incomplete traditional classifications may still occur, and these classifications fail to analyze the patterns and distribution of fractures from a three-dimensional perspective. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to analyze the location and distribution of fracture lines in different types of talus fractures using three-dimensional (3D) and heat mapping techniques. Additionally, we aimed to determine the surface area of the talus that can be utilized for different approaches of internal fixation, aiding in the planning of surgical procedures. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from CT scans from 126 patients diagnosed with talus fractures at our two hospitals. We extracted the CT data of a healthy adult and created a standard talus model. We performed 3D reconstruction using patients' CT images and superimposed the fracture model onto the standard model for drawing fracture lines. Subsequently, we converted the fracture lines into a heat map for visualization. Additionally, we measured 20 specimens to determine the boundary for various ligaments attached to the talus. We determined the surface area of the talus available for different surgical approaches by integrating the boundary data with previously reported data on area of exposure. RESULTS: Without considering the displacement distance of the fracture, fracture types were classified as follows, by combining Hawkins and Sneppen classifications: talar neck, 41.3%; posterior talar tubercle, 22.2%; body for the talus and comminuted, 17.5%; lateral talar tubercle, 11.9%; and talar head, 7.1%. We established fracture line and heat maps using this classification. Additionally, we demonstrated the available area for anteromedial, anterolateral, posteromedial, posterolateral, and medial malleolus osteotomy and Chaput osteotomy approaches. CONCLUSION: Fracture line and heat map analyses can aid surgeons in planning a single or combined surgical approach for the reduction and internal fixation of talus fractures. Demonstrating the different surgical approaches can help surgeons choose the most effective technique for individual cases.

Comparison of Arthroscopic Microfracture for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus With and Without Small and Shallow Subchondral Cysts.

BACKGROUND: Whether arthroscopic microfracture is effective in treating cystic osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) remains controversial. In this study, outcome parameters in patients with small and shallow subchondral cysts are compared to patients without cysts with the hypothesis that equivalent outcomes may be found after primary microfracture treatment. METHODS: From 2018 to 2021, all 50 OLTs treated with arthroscopic microfracture in the authors' hospital were retrospectively reviewed for eligibility. Single unilateral symptomatic lesions were included and divided into the cyst and noncyst groups, whereas kissing lesions and arthritic lesions were excluded. Numeric rating scale (NRS) scores, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scores, Tegner activity level scores, Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) scores, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging results were used to describe outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 35 patients were included, 16 in the cyst group and 19 in the noncyst group. The patient characteristics were similar between the 2 groups (P > .05). In the cyst group the average cysts depth was 5.0 ± 1.3 mm. After a mean follow-up duration of 36.2 ± 10.2 months, no significant differences were found between the 2 groups in NRS, AOFAS, FAAM, or Tegner score improvement (P > .05). Three patients (19%) in the cyst group had no NRS score improvement. CONCLUSION: OLTs with small and shallow subchondral cysts can be treated with arthroscopic microfracture and achieve similar outcomes as noncystic lesions. A few cystic lesions may not respond to microfracture treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Isolated Subtalar Dislocations: Insights from a Case Study and Literature Review.

Background: Isolated subtalar joint dislocations without associated fractures are rare in the medical literature. They occur when the talus bone remains in place while the calcaneus and navicular bones shift out of place. These dislocations account for about 15% of talus bone injuries and 1 to 2% of all joint dislocations. They are more common in young men following inversion trauma. Objective: This study aims to improve the understanding of diagnosis, treatment, and management of these rare injuries for better patient care. Case presentation: 17-year-old male patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus presented to the emergency department with severe ankle pain and swelling following an inversion injury, which rendered him unable to walk or stand. Despite his chronic condition, he was hemodynamically stable, with no neurovascular deficits but an apparent deformity in the left ankle. Treatment involved pain management with morphine, successful closed reduction under ketamine sedation, and immobilization. Follow-up radiographs and a CT scan revealed no fractures but indicated soft tissue edema, joint effusion, and subsequent osteopenia. At a three-month follow-up, the patient experienced ongoing pain and weight-bearing difficulties, diagnosed as complicated pain syndrome requiring further physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Conclusion: This case highlights the clinical challenges and complications in managing isolated subtalar joint dislocations, particularly in patients with systemic health issues, and contributes valuable insights to the sparse literature on this topic.

The role of imaging in the diagnosis, staging, and management of the osteochondral lesions of the talus.

Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) represent an abnormality of the articular cartilage and sub-chondral bone. The abnormality is typically associated with trauma though the exact aetiology remains unknown. Multiple staging systems have been developed to classify the abnormality and management can vary from conservative treatment to different surgical options. Early diagnosis is essential for optimal outcome and all imaging modalities have a role to play in patient management. The aim of this article is to review the pathology, classification, multimodality imaging appearances of OLT, and how the imaging affects patient management.

Arthroscopic microfracture and associated techniques in the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus: A systematic review and metanalysis.

BACKGROUND: Osteochondral lesions of the talus are common in patients suffering even minor trauma; timely diagnosis and treatment can prevent the development of early osteoarthritis. The objectives of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to evaluate the effects of additional procedures on arthroscopic ankle microperforations for osteochondral lesions. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed-Medline, Cochrane Central, and Google Scholar to select clinical studies analyzing the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), hyaluronic acid (HA), and bone marrow concentrate (BMC) procedures. Ten articles following PRISMA guidelines with a total of 464 patients were included in this review. Quality assessment using MINORS was performed, and all studies demonstrated high quality. RESULTS: The results of the systematic review showed benefits in all patients undergoing infiltrative therapy with PRP, hyaluronic acid, and BMC. The best results in terms of AOFAS score and VAS scale were found in patients undergoing PRP injection. The meta-analysis showed improvements in pain relief and return to daily activities in patients undergoing arthroscopic microperforations and PRP, although not reporting statistically significant results (p = 0.42). CONCLUSION: All treatment strategies reported better scores compared to the control groups. Among the various treatments analyzed, the addition of PRP appears to be the most valuable probably for the larger population receiving this treatment, showing excellent outcomes in pain reduction, clinical outcomes, and return to daily activities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Primary total talus arthroplasty for Hawkins type IV talar neck fracture dislocation.

A woman in her 40s was involved in a motor vehicle collision and sustained a closed Hawkins type IV talar neck fracture dislocation. The injury was treated with reduction, percutaneous pinning and spanning external fixation, followed by definitive treatment with total talus arthroplasty (TTA) 2 months following injury. This is a unique example of definitive management for a severe talar neck fracture dislocation with arthroplasty in the subacute setting. TTA is perhaps a primary option for these injuries at high risk for avascular necrosis, non-union, malunion and post-traumatic arthritis.

Infection Rates and Surgical Procedures Associated With Isolated Open Talar Neck and Body Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Open fractures of the talar body and neck are uncommon. Previous reports of associated deep infection rates and resulting surgical requirements vary widely. The primary objective of this study is to report the incidence of deep infections for isolated open talar body and neck fractures, and secondarily the incidence and number of total surgeries performed (TSP), secondary salvage procedures (SSPs), and nonsalvage procedures (NSPs). METHODS: Retrospective case-control study of 32 consecutive isolated open talus fracture patients (22 neck, 10 body) were followed for an average of 39.2 months. RESULTS: Five (15.6%) fractures developed deep infections. Fifty percent of open body fractures became infected compared with 0% of neck fractures (P < .001). There was no difference between infected group (IG) and uninfected fracture group (UG) with respect to age, sex, body mass index, tobacco, diabetes, vascular disease, open fracture type, wound location, hours to irrigation and debridement, or definitive treatment. The majority (92.6%) of UG fractures used a dual incision with open wound extension. There were more single extensile approaches in the IG group (P = .04). The IG required 5.8 TSP per patient compared with 2.1 in the UG (P = .004). All (100%) of the IG required an SSP compared with 29.6% of the UG (P = .006). All (100%) of the IG required an NSP compared to 40.7% of the UG (P = .043). In the IG, 2.8 NSPs per patient were required after definitive surgery compared with 1.18 in the UG (P = .003). Of those followed 1 year, the incidence of SSP remained higher in the IG (P = .016). CONCLUSION: The incidence of deep infection following isolated open talar fractures is high and occurs disproportionally in body fractures. Infected fractures required nearly 6 surgeries, and all required SSP. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, prognostic.

Arthroscopy-assisted reduction and simultaneous robotic-assisted screw placement in the treatment of fractures of the posterior talar process.

PURPOSE: A fracture of the posterior talar process is easily missed because of its hidden position. Inappropriate treatment is likely to result in complications, such as nonunion of the fracture and traumatic arthritis. This study evaluated the outcomes of arthroscopy-assisted reduction combined with robotic-assisted screw placement in the treatment of fractures of the posterior talar process. METHODS: The clinical data for nine patients who underwent surgical treatment of a fracture of the posterior talar process at our institution between September 2017 and January 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Arthroscopy-assisted reduction of the fracture was performed, and a cannulated screw was placed using three-dimensional orthopedic robotic-assisted navigation. RESULTS: The patients (seven men, two women) had a mean age of 36.33 ± 9.77 years and were followed up for 21 ± 5.43 months. The operation time was 106.67 ± 24.5 min with blood loss of 47.78 ± 9.05 ml. Primary healing was obtained in all cases, and no patient sustained a nerve or tendon injury, had fracture nonunion, or developed talar osteonecrosis. One patient developed subtalar arthritis, for which subtalar joint fusion was performed; pain was markedly less severe after cleaning. CONCLUSION: Arthroscopy-assisted reduction and robotic-assisted screw placement have the advantages of visualization of fracture reduction, minimal injury, and precise screw placement in the treatment of fractures of the posterior talar process.

A chimeric medial femoral condyle chondro-osseus flap with two thin periosteal flaps to reconstruct partial necrosis of talar body: A case report.

Total talar extrusion is a rare complication of high-energy traumas. A consequence of this injury can be avascular necrosis (AVN) of the talus. Patients are confronted with pain, limited range of motion and post-traumatic arthritis. As AVN progresses the talus is gradually destroyed. This report presents the use of a chimeric medial femoral condyle chondro-osseus flap with two thin periosteal flaps to increase vascular supply to the traumatized area, accelerate bone formation, flap integration, and restore articular surfaces in a patient with partial necrosis of talar body. The patient was a 26-year-old female with open left lateral talar extrusion after a motor-vehicle accident that developed a partial avascular necrosis, at the level of the subtalar and ankle joint with altered talar dome surface with partial depression of 2 cm. The patient was in pain and not able to walk. The medial femoral condyle chondro-osseus portion was placed in the talar dome depression to restore the subtalar joint, the periosteal flaps were placed on top to reconstruct the ankle joint restoring the articular surfaces and the correct weight-bearing distribution. No complications or morbidity of donor site were observed. One year after the operation, the patient walks free, without pain. Post-operatory x-ray performed, evidenced progressive bone healing and reduction of the AVN. In the intent of performing a joint-saving procedure, the presented chimeric flap might be effective in the short-term with excellent clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Luxación periastragalina posterior genuina cerrada sin fractura ni mala alineación asociada. Reporte de un caso y revisión bibliográfica / True closed posterior subtalar dislocation without fracture or associated malalignment. Case report and literature review

La luxación periastragalina es un tipo de luxación infrecuente. Se clasifica según la relación del calcáneo con respecto al astrágalo, y las más comunes son las formas medial y lateral; y hay casos aislados de las variantes posterior y anterior. Presentamos el caso de un paciente con una luxación periastragalina cerrada posterior sin fractura asociada, el video de la técnica para la reducción cerrada bajo anestesia y también una revisión bibliográfica de esta infrecuente variedad de luxación. Nivel de Evidencia: IV

Subtalar dislocation is a rare type of dislocation that is characterized based on the relationship of the calcaneus to the talus, with the medial and lateral forms being more prevalent and the posterior and anterior forms appearing only in isolated cases in the literature. We present the case of a patient with a closed posterior subtalar dislocation without an associated fracture, as documented clinically and radiologically. We also include a video of the technique for closed reduction under anesthesia, as well as a review of the existing literature on this rare type of dislocation. Level of Evidence: IV