A talus fracture is simply a fragmented ankle bone. The talus positioned at the rear of the foot that attaches the leg and the foot. It links with the 2 leg bones to create the ankle and enables upward and downward movement of the ankle.
Indications
- Pain
- Swelling
- Inability to walk due to the swelling and bruising
Possible causes of talus fractures
Talus fractures are often due to high-impact injuries. Falling from a ladder and automobile accidents usually result to severe injuries. Nevertheless, these fractures might also occur if the ankle is twisted which can result to small-sized pieces that are separated off the borders of the talus.
Close look on the anatomy
The talus or ankle bone is positioned in between the ankle which is comprised of 2 leg bones – tibia and fibula. There are 3 joints – ankle which allow up-and-down movement of the foot with the leg, subtalar joint for side-to-side movement and talonavicular joint which controls flexibility of the foot and arch of the foot.
It is important to note that the talus does not have muscular attachments and covered with cartilage which makes injuries hard to heal.
Management
The talus fractures should be treated with a cast or even surgery is an option.
Non-surgical treatment
This is recommended for fractures where the bone pieces stay close together and the joint surfaces are still properly aligned. Those who have diabetes, smoke or have poor circulation can be managed without surgery due to the high risk for complications.
Surgical treatment
In most cases, surgery is the ideal form of treatment. The objective of surgery is to restore the size and shape of the talus. Oftentimes, this is an issue since several fragments of bone can be a hard task.
If there are a number of large pieces, the doctor might carry out open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). It involves the creation of an incision on the exterior of the foot and placement of a metal screws and plates to secure the bones until they heal. The procedure will ensure full recovery of the inward and outward movement of the foot.
Recovery period
The recovery for talus fractures can be a long one. For 8-12 weeks, the individual should not place any weight or walk using the affected leg. Once the bone heals, exercise and physical therapy is started to maximize the functionality of the ankle. Some swelling of the foot is expected for several months after the procedure.
The injury can be incapacitating with persistent pain, swelling and stiffness even after non-surgical or surgical treatment. Nevertheless, most individuals are able to resume activity depending on the type and severity of the fracture.