Aims

Arthroscopic microfracture is a conventional form of treatment for patients with osteochondritis of the talus, involving an area of < 1.5 cm². However, some patients have persistent pain and limitation of movement in the early postoperative period. No studies have investigated the combined treatment of microfracture and shortwave treatment in these patients. The aim of this prospective single-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was to compare the outcome in patients treated with arthroscopic microfracture combined with radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy (rESWT) and arthroscopic microfracture alone, in patients with ostechondritis of the talus.

The management of symptomatic osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) can be challenging. The number of ways of treating these lesions has increased considerably during the last decade, with published studies often providing conflicting, low-level evidence. This paper aims to present an up-to-date concise overview of the best evidence for the surgical treatment of OLTs. Management options are reviewed based on the size of the lesion and include bone marrow stimulation, bone grafting options, drilling techniques, biological preparations, and resurfacing. Although many of these techniques have shown promising results, there remains little high level evidence, and further large scale prospective studies and systematic reviews will be required to identify the optimal form of treatment for these lesions.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(2):207–212.

1. Ten consecutive fractures of the dome of the talus are reported. Six were lateral, three medial and one anterior.

2. The injury is most commonly seen in the second and third decades of life, and with the exception of the rare anterior dome fracture, results from an inversion injury of the ankle. The possibility of a dome fracture associated with strain of the lateral ligament of the ankle joint should therefore always be borne in mind.

3. Antero-posterior views in neutral and in plantar fiexion are helpful in diagnosing medial dome fractures. Lateral fractures are best seen in an antero-posterior view taken in neutral flexion with 10 degrees inward rotation of the limb.

4. A large dome fracture with displacement should be accurately reduced by open operation in order to preserve congruity of the joint surface.

5. A small fracture with no displacement may be treated conservatively until radiographically it appears united.

6. A small fracture with marked displacement is best treated by early excision of the fragment to prevent further damage to the ankle joint.

1. Fifty-eight major injuries in the region of the talus were reviewed regarding treatment, incidence of complications and long-term results.

2. The prognosis for simple fractures of the head, neck or body was good, as was that for dislocations of the midtarsal and peritalar joints.

3. The prognosis for fracture-dislocations of the neck and body was better than has been frequently reported. It was related to the degree of initial trauma. A good result occurs only if accurate reduction is effected and maintained. Fixation with a Kirschner wire is a useful method of maintaining the reduction after unstable fracture-dislocations.

4. Avascular necrosis occurred only in the more severe injuries and its incidence was related to the degree of initial displacement. The late results were better than have been previously described. The condition is best treated conservatively by protection from weight-bearing until revascularisation is well advanced.

5. A case with an unusual pattern of fracture of the neck of the talus is described following a plantar-flexion inversion injury.

1. The intraosseous and extraosseous circulation of the talus was examined in thirty necropsy specimens.

2. The blood supply to the talus is quite diffuse and arises from the three major arteries of the lower leg.

3. The common patterns of circulation, as well as the variations, have been documented.

1. Four cases of true congenital vertical talus are described; in three of the four cases there were other major deformities of the skeleton. All were treated by open operation; the operation sacrificed part of the substance of the navicular bone, which was placed between the forepart of the calcaneus and the head of the talus.

2. The results five to ten years after operation show that stable reduction was maintained without any further treatment. They suggest, however, that more of the navicular bone could have been removed or that the whole navicular might be excised, at least in the more severe deformities.

3. Congenital vertical talus resembles club foot (equino-cavo-varus) in that difficulty in reduction and in maintenance of the reduction results from the tension in the medial pillar of the foot. Easing of the tension can result in recurrence of the dislocation or, alternatively, a reversal of the deformity.

1. The clinical and radiological features of thirty-two feet with congenital vertical talus are described and subdivided into groups determined by the presence or absence of associated abnormalities.

2. The differential diagnosis of congenital vertical talus from flat foot, talipes calcaneus and uncorrected club foot is discussed.

3. No benefit came from either non-operative treatment or tenotomy of the tibialis anterior.

1. Attention is drawn to that type of rigid congenital flat foot in which the talus lies vertically instead of horizontally.

2. This deformity is rare, but if not treated successfully leads to an ugly, painful foot in adolescence.

3. The experience of five patients forms the basis of the present preliminary account. One adolescent and two young children under the age of five were treated unsuccessfully by both conservative and operative measures. More recently in two children with bilateral deformity open operation has been successful in restoring the shape of the foot.

4. The operation is essentially a reduction of a subluxation at the talo-navicular and subtalar joints. It entails freeing the head of the talus sufficiently to allow it to be lifted dorsally and laterally. The talus is then anchored in position by transplanting the distal end of the peroneus brevis tendon through the neck of the bone.

Aims

The hypothesis of this study was that bone peg fixation in the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus would show satisfactory clinical and radiological results, without complications.

A 15-year-old girl presented with a four-year history of pain in the left ankle. There was no known trauma, only a postnatal soft tissue infection which had healed with no sequelae. Radiographs showed that the talus consisted of two large fragments and one small one.

1. Thirteen cases of fracture of the lateral process of the talus seen over a period of thirteen months are reported.

2. The mechanism of the injury would appear to be inversion strain of the foot with dorsiflexion of the ankle.

3. The diagnosis would no doubt be made more often if the possibility of this fracture were kept in mind, and if radiographs of good quality were taken with the ankle at 0 degree and the leg rotated inwards 10 to 20 degrees.

4. With regard to treatment, early operation appears to give good results, a single large fragment being reduced accurately and small or comminuted fragments being removed.

1. Eight cases of congenital vertical talus in infancy are reported. The principal differential diagnosis at this age is from talipes calcaneo-valgus.

2. The deformity is primarily a dorsal dislocation of the talo-navicular joint.

3. Closed reduction can be achieved if treatment begins at birth. Open reduction is indicated for the deformity uncorrected by the age of three months.

1. Congenital vertical talus is described and the criteria for diagnosis are emphasised. The need for its distinction from other forms of convex pes valgus is stressed.

2. The operative technique of Stone for Lloyd-Roberts (1963) is detailed and the results of seven such operations are examined.

3. Departure from the technique in any respect has resulted in an unsatisfactory outcome, whereas stringent observation of the operative details has resulted in uniformly good results in four patients.

4. Certain aspects of diagnosis, differential diagnosis, etiology, pathology and surgical management are discussed, together with a review of some of the relevant literature.

We reviewed 11 patients (17 ankles) who had had core decompression for symptomatic avascular necrosis of the talus before collapse. The Mazur grading system was used to assess function preoperatively and at final follow-up, and radiographs were graded according to the Ficat and Arlet (1980) classification modified for the ankle.

At a mean follow-up of seven years (2 to 14) 14 ankles (82%) had an excellent or good outcome (Mazur scores > 80 points; pain scores > 40 points (41 to 50)). The other three ankles required tibiotalar fusion at a mean of 13 months (5 to 20) after core decompression.

We conclude that core decompression is a viable method of treatment for symptomatic avascular necrosis of the talus before collapse.

1. A case of flake fracture of the talus progressing to osteochondritis dissecans is reported.

2. The relationship between direct injury and the onset of the lesion is noted.

3. The sequence of events was observed radiographically and clinically for two years from the date of the original injury.

A new method of vascularised tibial grafting has been developed for the treatment of avascular necrosis (AVN) of the talus and secondary osteoarthritis (OA) of the ankle. We used 40 cadavers to identify the vascular anatomy of the distal tibia in order to establish how to elevate a vascularised tibial graft safely. Between 2008 and 2012, eight patients (three male, five female, mean age 50 years; 26 to 68) with isolated AVN of the talus and 12 patients (four male, eight female, mean age 58 years; 23 to 76) with secondary OA underwent vascularised bone grafting from the distal tibia either to revascularise the talus or for arthrodesis. The radiological and clinical outcomes were evaluated at a mean follow-up of 31 months (24 to 62). The peri-malleolar arterial arch was confirmed in the cadaveric study. A vascularised bone graft could be elevated safely using the peri-malleolar pedicle. The clinical outcomes for the group with AVN of the talus assessed with the mean Mazur ankle grading scores, improved significantly from 39 points (21 to 48) pre-operatively to 81 points (73 to 90) at the final follow-up (p = 0.01). In all eight revascularisations, bone healing was obtained without progression to talar collapse, and union was established in 11 of 12 vascularised arthrodeses at a mean follow-up of 34 months (24 to 58). MRI showed revascularisation of the talus in all patients.

We conclude that a vascularised tibial graft can be used both for revascularisation of the talus and for the arthrodesis of the ankle in patients with OA secondary to AVN of the talus.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015; 97-B:802–8.

Osteochondral lesions (OCLs) occur in up to 70% of sprains and fractures involving the ankle. Atraumatic aetiologies have also been described. Techniques such as microfracture, and replacement strategies such as autologous osteochondral transplantation, or autologous chondrocyte implantation are the major forms of surgical treatment. Current literature suggests that microfracture is indicated for lesions up to 15 mm in diameter, with replacement strategies indicated for larger or cystic lesions. Short- and medium-term results have been reported, where concerns over potential deterioration of fibrocartilage leads to a need for long-term evaluation.

Biological augmentation may also be used in the treatment of OCLs, as they potentially enhance the biological environment for a natural healing response. Further research is required to establish the critical size of defect, beyond which replacement strategies should be used, as well as the most appropriate use of biological augmentation. This paper reviews the current evidence for surgical management and use of biological adjuncts for treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:164–71.