Treatment of Talus Fractures: a Retrospective Study
Treatment of Talus Fractures: a Retrospective Study
The main purpose of this retrospective case series study was to evaluate long-term
 radiographic and clinical outcomes of a consecutive series of patients with diagnosis of
 isolated, displaced, closed talar neck or body fractures treated by open reduction and
 internal fixation. Secondly, it was aimed to verify the influence of the location of talar
 fractures on the outcomes, the prognostic value of the Hawkins sign, whether operative delays
 promote avascular necrosis (AVN) and if the fractures require emergent surgical management.
From January 2007 to December 2012, 31 patients underwent ORIF by screws at our institution.
 On the basis of Inokuchi criteria, the injuries were divided between neck and body fractures,
 which were classified according to Hawkins and Sneppen, respectively. The patients included
 were divided into two groups in relation to fracture location and complexity. Radiographic
 assessment focused on reduction quality, bone healing, Hawkins sign and osteoarthritis
 development. For clinical evaluation, clinical-functional scores (AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Score;
 MFS; FFI-17; SF-36) and VAS were determined, and statistical analysis was performed.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  diagnosis of a closed, isolated, displaced talar neck or body fracture with 2 or more
 millimetres displacement, subsequently treated by ORIF

 -  age between 18 and 85 years

 -  informed consent to participate.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  undisplaced fractures or involvement of both the neck and the body,

 -  open fractures, talar head and peripheral fractures including posterior process,
 osteochondral fractures, primary arthrodesis or amputation,

 -  history of severe neurological deficit,

 -  previous foot surgery or trauma,

 -  diagnosis of rheumathological diseases or psoriatic arthritis, foot neuropathy, severe
 vascular insufficiency and alcohol or drug abuse.