Reduction of irreducible Hawkins III talar neck fracture by means of a medial malleolar osteotomy: a report of three cases with a 4-year mean follow-up

We report three cases of a closed Hawkins III talar neck fracture in which the posteromedially dislocated talar body was irreducible even with combined anteromedial and anterolateral approaches. Our intraoperative solution was to proceed with a medial malleolar osteotomy, which resulted in an easy reduction. The combined incisions provided excellent exposure for anatomic reduction and rigid internal fixation. At a mean follow-up of 4 years, all fractures had healed with no evidence of avascular necrosis or talar dome collapse.     

Irreducible isolated subtalar dislocation: a case report

Subtalar dislocations are uncommon and account for approximately 1% of all dislocations. Optimal management is by immediate closed reduction under general anesthesia. We report 3 cases of irreducible, isolated subtalar dislocation that required an open procedure. Closed reduction failed in 2 patients with lateral dislocation due to interposition of the posterior tibialis tendon caused by a large tear of the flexor retinaculum. The flexor retinaculum was accurately reconstructed after the reduction. In the third case, a medial dislocation, a displaced extensor retinaculum prevented relocation of the talar head and required resection. We also discuss the mechanisms for irreducible subtalar dislocations.     

经皮空心螺钉固定治疗距骨颈骨折18例分析

目的：分析经皮空心螺钉固定治疗距骨颈骨折的效果及对功能恢复的影响。方法：根据Hawkin分型,对18例距骨颈骨折患者采用闭合复位或有限切开复位经皮空心螺钉固定手术治疗。结果：18例均获随访,随访时间9—15个月。骨折愈合情况分别为：Ⅰ型,Ⅱ型共11例均愈合,Ⅲ型愈合3例,Ⅳ型愈合1例。结论：闭合复位或有限切开复位经皮空心螺钉固定手术治疗距骨颈骨折,疗效满意。     

Talar neck fractures treated with closed reduction and percutaneous screw fixation:a case series

Talus fractures are relatively rare injuries, accounting for approximately 3% of all foot fractures. Fractures of the talar neck account for almost 50% of all talus fractures. Diagnosis and treatment of these fractures play an important role in patients' outcomes. Treatment of talar neck fractures has slowly evolved from closed treatment to open reduction and internal fixation. Treatment of type I and type II talar neck fractures is debated in the orthopedic community. Choosing which treatment to perform depends on injury severity, associated injuries, and surgeon experience and preference. In this article, we report on our retrospective review of all talar neck fractures treated with closed reduction and percutaneous fixation between 1996 and 2001 at the Pennsylvania State University Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.     

Low-Energy Hawkins Type III Talar Neck Fracture-Dislocation With Neurovascular and Tendon Entrapment in a Pediatric Patient

Several serious complications can occur after talar neck fractures. However, these fractures are extremely rare in children. We present a pediatric low-energy Hawkins type III fracture-dislocation that had excessive displacement accompanied by neurovascular and tendon entrapment. A 9-year-old male patient referred to our hospital 5 hours after jumping off a swing in a children's playground. An excessively displaced talar neck fracture-dislocation was observed at the initial evaluation. The patient underwent urgent surgery. The tibialis posterior flexor digitorum longus tendons, posterior tibial artery, and tibial nerve were entrapped at the fracture site. The talar neck fracture was reduced using open reduction. The neurovascular structures and tendons were removed from the fracture site. The fracture was fixed using two 4.5-mm cannulated screws. The patient was able to bear full weight at 10 weeks postoperatively. At 6 months, the patient was able to walk unassisted with full ankle range of motion. However, at 2 years, his American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot scale score had decreased to 72 points, and we observed avascular necrosis in the talar head. In conclusion, talar fractures are rare but can lead to serious complications. In the pediatric population, even low-energy trauma, such as had occurred in our patient, can result in severe displaced fracture-dislocations. After severe displaced fracture-dislocations, important soft tissue structures can become entrapped between fracture fragments, and surgeons should be aware of this situation when considering using closed reduction.     

Closed total talus dislocation without fracture: report of two cases

We report two cases of closed total talus dislocation without concomitant talar or malleolar fracture managed by closed reduction. With the exception of one case, previously reported cases have been open and/or associated with concomitant talar or malleolar fractures. Both of our cases had good functional and radiographic results at 2 years follow-up. We suggest that in this type of dislocation, anatomical reduction of the talus can be achieved by simple traction.     

Talar neck fractures

Talus fractures are rare injuries that account for approximately 3% of all foot fractures; talar neck fractures account for almost 50% of all talus fractures. The appropriate diagnosis and treatment of these fractures play an important role in the patient's outcome. Treatment has evolved slowly throughout the years, from closed treatment to open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). The treatment of type I and type II talar neck fractures is not uniform in the orthopedic community. The option of closed reduction versus ORIF is dependent upon the degree of injury, surgeon experience, and preference.     

Talar dislocations

From 1987-2003, 36 patients were treated for talar dislocation, 27 patients for subtalar, six for total talar, and three patients for peritalar dislocation. Luxatio pedis sub talo: We found 19 medial closed, seven lateral closed and one third degree open subtalar dislocations. Our therapeutic concept provides for immediate reduction, which is possible by closed procedure for the majority of medial dislocations. If there is a tendency to redislocation, we perform talonavicular K-wire transfixation. In the case of irreducibility, open reduction via lateral approach is the rule. The lateral dislocation type is often accompanied by additional fractures of the hindfoot and tarsus, frequently requiring primary open procedures via medial approach. 32 patients were followed-up in whom we found 17 excellent results, ten good, three mediocre and two poor results. With two thirds of the patients, low grade arthrosis at least was observed and two thirds showed a reduced amplitude of motion in one or more talar joints. A definite correlation between arthrosis and reduced function was not established. We did not find talar necroses, persisting instabilities, or redislocations. Luxatio tali totalis: We found three lateral and three medial complete dislocations. The therapeutic concept consists of immediate reduction-only possible by open procedure. A tendency to redislocation requires K-wire transfixation. All patients were followed-up. We found two good and four poor results, with two total and three partial necroses. As a secondary treatment, two lower ankle joint(LAJ) and two upper ankle joint (UAJ) arthrodeses were performed. There were no talectomies, amputations, or infections. Luxatio pedis cum talo: We found three anterolateral UAJ dislocations. Our therapeutic concept provides for immediate reduction. The whole capsular ligament apparatus was reconstructed by primary or secondary treatment, depending on the degree of soft tissue damage. Follow-up showed two excellent results     

Peroneal Tendons Rupture in a Closed Talar Body Fracture: A Rare Injury

The combination of tendon and ligament ruptures with fracture of the talus is very rare. We demonstrate our experience in the acceptable management of a 34-year-old male referred with a closed comminuted fracture of the talar body after falling 7 meters. During the surgery, complete rupture of the peroneus brevis tendon, partial rupture of the peroneus longus tendon, and an avulsed superficial deltoid ligament from medial malleolus were found. Twelve months after open reduction and internal fixation of the talar body fracture and repair of the peroneal tendons and superficial deltoid ligament, the patient was satisfied, without any talar dome collapse, sclerosis, or arthritic changes. It is recommended to take care of possible tendon or ligament ruptures during fixation of talar fractures in cases of high-energy trauma.     

Incidence of Talar Osteochondral Lesions After Acute Ankle Fracture: A Retrospective Analysis

Recent literature suggests the majority of osteochondral lesions occur in the ankle joint. Previous studies have suggested that varying incidences of talar osteochondral lesions (OCLT) are associated with ankle fractures. The primary aim of our study was to investigate the incidence of osteochondral lesions associated with acute ankle fractures as observed on computed tomographic (CT) imaging. We also compared the rates of talar osteochondral lesions in patients who had ankle fractures with dislocation and closed manual reduction (CMR) prior to open reduction with internal fixation, to those who did not suffer from ankle joint dislocation. Additionally, a correlation between the location of talar dome lesions with type of ankle fracture as classified by Lauge-Hansen was investigated. Preoperative CT imaging was retrospectively reviewed in 108 patients with acute ankle fractures. A CT-modified version of Berndt Hardy's classification of osteochondral lesions, as previously described by Loomer et al, was used for diagnosis of lesions in our study. The incidence of lesions was calculated across all subjects, and retrospective comparison was performed in those who did and did not undergo closed manual reduction. Supplementary data on location of lesion and its association with ankle fracture type was also recorded. We found an overall incidence of 50.9% OCLT in patients with acute ankle fractures. This number did not significantly differ from those who underwent closed manual reduction (49%). Although a majority of lesions did occur posteriorly, we saw no statistically significant information was seen between either type of fractures or OCLT locations. Careful consideration and thorough evaluation of preoperative CT imaging should be assessed by the performing surgeon, as this could guide both diagnostic and therapeutic treatments for patients with possible osteochondral lesions of the talus undergoing surgical repair of a fractured ankle.     

Luxatio pedis sub talo medialis

Subtalar dislocations represent uncommon injuries of the foot. Leitner [7] described the relationship between medial and lateral dislocations as 6:1. The mechanism is a trauma in plantar flexion/supination of the forefoot with a fixed hindfoot. Immediate reduction, which can usually be performed as a closed reduction is the aim of the treatment. The reduction should be performed under anesthesia in the operating room (OR) and under OR conditions in case the closed reduction shows no success. Subsequently, x-rays and CT scans should be performed in two planes in order to rule out concomitant injuries at the processus posterior tali and the talar head, as bony fragments can necessitate an operative intervention in the case of an interposition of the articulation. In terms of aftercare an immobilization of 6 weeks with a lower leg cast is suggested in the literature. In the presented case an early functional therapy with 2 weeks cast and 4 weeks with a therapy boot could achieve good clinical results.     

Talus fractures: evaluation and treatment

Fractures of the talus are uncommon. The relative infrequency of these injuries in part accounts for the lack of useful and objective data to guide treatment. The integrity of the talus is critical to normal function of the ankle, subtalar, and transverse tarsal joints. Injuries to the head, neck, or body of the talus can interfere with normal coupled motion of these joints and result in permanent pain, loss of motion, and deformity. Outcomes vary widely and are related to the degree of initial fracture displacement. Nondisplaced fractures have a favorable outcome in most cases. Failure to recognize fracture displacement (even when minimal) can lead to undertreatment and poor outcomes. The accuracy of closed reduction of displaced talar neck fractures can be very difficult to assess. Operative treatment should, therefore, be considered for all displaced fractures. Osteonecrosis and malunion are common complications, and prompt and accurate reduction minimizes their incidence and severity. The use of titanium screws for fixation permits magnetic resonance imaging, which may allow earlier assessment of osteonecrosis; however, further investigation is necessary to determine the clinical utility of this information. Unrecognized medial talar neck comminution can lead to varus malunion and a supination deformity with decreased range of motion of the subtalar joint. Combined anteromedial and anterolateral exposure of talar neck fractures can help ensure anatomic reduction. Posttraumatic hindfoot arthrosis has been reported to occur in more than 90% of patients with displaced talus fractures. Salvage can be difficult and often necessitates extended arthrodesis procedures.     

The effect of concomitant chondral injuries accompanying operatively reduced malleolar fractures.

The best clinical results in the treatment of malleolar fractures occur when an anatomic reduction is obtained and maintained until the fractures are healed. Ankle pain and/or tibio-talar arthrosis has been reported despite anatomic surgical reduction and stable fixation of the malleoli. This may be due to unrecognized injuries to the cartilaginous surfaces of the tibio-talar joint. Between 1984 and 1987, 63 patients with isolated closed malleolar fractures underwent open reduction and internal fixation using standard AO techniques. Each patient had inspection of the entire talar dome during surgery. There were seven type A, 37 type B, and 19 type C fractures. Thirty-one patients (49%) had injuries to the talar dome cartilage, ranging from mild scuffing to free osteochondral fragments. Twenty-five patients were available for a follow-up evaluation at an average of 25 months after surgery. Thirteen patients had some complaints of pain, eight of whom had talar dome chondral injuries. The overall results, including functional status and ankle range of motion, were significantly poorer in patients with talar dome chondral injuries (p less than or equal to 0.03 and p less than or equal to 0.042, respectively).     

When does the flat-top talus lesion occur in idiopathic clubfoot: evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging at three months of age.

Flat-top talus has been described as a pathologic change secondary to idiopathic clubfoot condition and/or as a direct result of nonoperative manipulation involving forced dorsiflexion and molding of the cartilaginous talus. No definitive study, however, on the etiology and the timing of the flat-top talus deformity has been performed to date. The authors evaluated the magnetic resonance images of eleven patients with idiopathic clubfoot deformities treated with 2 to 3 months of casting to assess if flattening of the talar dome occurred at this age with this amount of casting. All children were 3 months of age, were casted for a maximum of 2 to 3 months, and sedated before MRI examination. The images were evaluated for maximum talar head height, maximum talar body height, and deviation of the talar body from a perfect circle. Maximum talar head height ranged from 4 to 9 mm, maximum talar body height ranged from 6 to 10 mm. Eight of the eleven had maximum talar body measurements 3 to 5mm greater than maximum talar head height. Three of the eleven patients had head and body size of equal proportion. Two of the eleven had a talar body that was within 1 mm of a perfect circle. The remaining nine patients had perfectly round talar bodies. In the senior author's (RSD) experience with treating clubfeet, a substantial increase has been seen at operation in flat-top tali among children that were casted for more than 1 year before surgical correction, compared to children casted for 3 months before surgical correction. The current investigation indicated that although tali of children with clubfeet are abnormally shaped, the talar body remains larger than the talar head and maintains its roundness after two to three months of corrective casting. Maintenance of cast treatment for more than three months may lead to the flat-top talus deformity. The authors recommend surgical intervention following three months of failed manipulation and casting to prevent this deformity.     

Defining Talar Head and Neck Pathology: The Malvern Classification System

Talar fractures account for <1% of all fractures in the body and 3% to 6% of pedal fractures. Of these fractures, avulsion and neck fractures represent the most and second most common type, respectively. Several classification systems exist for talar fractures of the talar dome (Berndt-Hardy), talar neck dislocation (Hawkins), and talar body (Sneppen) anatomic locations. Although diverse, they are not all encompassing for fracture patterns of the talus. Another set of pathologic issues occur about the talar head and neck region that can be seen in the clinical setting. Thus, a new classification system (Malvern classification system for talar head/neck fractures) was devised and defined for this location. The system represents a comprehensive review of the available published data and synthesis into an organized classification system.     

Rare shear-type fracture of the talar head in a thirteen-year-old child — Is this a transitional fracture: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUNDTalar fractures are exceedingly rare in childhood. There are very few studies on the clinical aspects, the long-term outcomes and the appropriate treatment of these fractures in pediatric patients. The mechanism of trauma consists of the application of a sudden dorsiflexion force on a fully plantar-flexed foot. Traumatic mechanism, symptoms and imaging of injuries of the talar head are similar to transitional fractures that are normally described at the distal epiphysis of the tibia: the so-called transitional fracture is defined as an epiphyseal injury when the growth plate has already started to close.CASE SUMMARYA thirteen-year-old girl reported a high-energy trauma to her right foot, due to falling from her horse. X-rays at the Emergency Department were negative. Because of persistent pain, the patient was assessed by an orthopedic surgeon after two weeks and computed tomography scans revealed a misdiagnosed displaced shear-type fracture of the talar head. Hence, surgical open reduction and fixation with two headless screws was performed. The girl was assessed regularly, and plain films at follow-up revealed complete healing of the fracture. Within six months after surgery, the patient returned to pre-injury sport activities reporting no complications.CONCLUSIONInjuries of the talar head in childhood should be considered as transitional fractures. Open reduction with internal fixation aims to reduce malalignment and osteoarthritis. Computed tomography scans are recommended in these cases.     

The Edinburgh variant of a talar body fracture: a case report

We describe a novel closed pantalar dislocation with an associated sagittal medial talar body and medial malleolus fractures. Closed reduction was attempted unsuccessfully. Open reduction was performed, revealing a disrupted talonavicular joint with instability of the calcaneocuboid joint. This configuration required stabilisation with an external fixator. There were no signs of avascular necrosis, or arthrosis at 15 months follow but is currently using a stick to mobilise.     

Closed total talar extrusion after ankle sprain

Closed total talus dislocation from tibiotalar, subtalar, and talonavicular joints is a very rare injury. A 25-year-old young man, who had severe ankle distortion while walking down a flight of stairs, was brought to the emergency room complaining of a deformity and pain in his ankle joint. Roentgenographies revealed total talar body extrusion. The patient was treated urgently with open reduction in the authors' clinic. Tibialis posterior tendon might prevent closed reduction so open reduction with retraction of the tendon may be necessary.     

Periphere Talusfrakturen

Objective

Open reduction and internal fixation with screw(s) for fragments with sufficient size, and resection of smaller fragments.

Indications

Displaced fragments with (typical) involvement of joint surface.

Contraindications

Active infection and severe peripherial vascular disease.

Surgical technique

Positioning and approach are adapted to the fracture location. Fractures of the talar head and talar shoulders, supine position and anteromedial/-lateral approach. Fractures of the lateral talar process, lateral position on contralateral side and lateral approach. Fractures of the posterior talar process, prone position and posterolateral approach. Fractures of the medial, supine position and medial approach. Open reduction and internal screw fixation. Cartilage-surgical procedures for concomitant chondral defects.

Postoperative management

For the first 6 weeks, 15 kg partial weight bearing without orthosis in a standard shoe. Thrombosis prophylaxis following the local standard during the time of partial weight bearing.

Results

At a specialized orthopedic hospital with a supraregional frequented department for foot and ankle surgery, 8 patients with peripherial talar fractures were treated in 2012 (medial/posterior talar process, each n?=?1, lateral talar process, n?=?2, medial and lateral talar shoulder, each n?=?2). One fragment was fixed with 1–3 screws, and additional cartilage reconstruction with matrix-associated stem cell transplantation was performed in 4 cases (lateral talar process, n?=?2, medial and lateral talar shoulder, each n?=?1). Bony fusion was registered at the 6-week follow-up in all cases. Further follow-up is not completed. Complications have not been registered so far.     

Talonavicular joint approach to the talar body: a cadaver study

BACKGROUND: Lesions of the talar dome or tumors within the talar body may require an open approach with medial or lateral malleolar osteotomies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility and feasibility of a new minimally invasive approach without osteotomy, using the talonavicular joint (TJ) as the entry portal for lesions of the talar body. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine cadaveric feet were used for this study. Using the TJ and a 5-mm skin incision we aimed to reach the superolateral, superomedial, inferolateral and inferomedial corners of the talar body under fluoroscopy. A 2-mm Kirshner wire and a 4-mm cannulated drill bit were used to reach the desired target area and an angled curette was used for curettage after reaching the target. The proximity of vascular structures to the entry portal was noted. The talar and navicular joint surfaces were checked for any damage. The articular areas of the talar heads and the defect areas were measured. RESULTS: All 4 targets and even the posterior talus could be reached by this approach. The nearest neurovascular structures were the saphenous vein and the saphenous nerve. The navicular cartilage was not damaged in any specimen. The talar defect area corresponded to only 3.3% of the talar head cartilaginous area. CONCLUSION: The TJ approach can be used to reach lesions in all regions of the talar body without the need for an osteotomy. A mini-incision may be used to retract the saphenous nerve and vein. Damage to the talar head cartilage is minimal with this approach which requires no special equipments. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study shows that talar dome lesions can be reached with a minimally invasive method.