Surgical treatment of talus fractures

Abstract

We retrospectively reviewed 79 patients (80 talar fractures) operated on between 1994 and 1997. The average follow-up was 6 (1-15) years. 15 patients had a Marti/Weber fracture type I, 14 patients a type II, 32 patients a type III, and 19 patients a type IV fracture. 46 patients suffered a fracture of the talar neck, Hawkins type I in 10 patients, type II in 18, type III in 17 and type IV in 1 patient. 18/23 patients directly placed in our department were operated on within 6 hours of admission. Primary arthrodesis of both the ankle and subtalar joint was performed twice. Secondary arthrodesis of the ankle joint was done in only 3 patients. Combined secondary arthrodesis of the ankle and subtalar joint was performed in 5 and arthrodesis of the talonavicular joint in 1 patient. According to the Hawkins score, 35/80 feet achieved good/very good function versus 43 with the Mazur score. Radiographs showed ankle or subtalar arthrosis in two thirds of the patients. A normal range of motion was achieved in 18 ankle and 19 subtalar joints. The overall rate of talar necrosis was 9/80 fractures.