Talar neck and body fracture outcomes: a multicentre retrospective review

Infection Rates and Surgical Procedures Associated With Isolated Open Talar Neck and Body Fractures

BACKGROUND

Open fractures of the talar body and neck are uncommon. Previous reports of associated deep infection rates and resulting surgical requirements vary widely. The primary objective of this study is to report the incidence of deep infections for isolated open talar body and neck fractures, and secondarily the incidence and number of total surgeries performed (TSP), secondary salvage procedures (SSPs), and nonsalvage procedures (NSPs).

METHODS

Retrospective case-control study of 32 consecutive isolated open talus fracture patients (22 neck, 10 body) were followed for an average of 39.2 months.

RESULTS

Five (15.6%) fractures developed deep infections. Fifty percent of open body fractures became infected compared with 0% of neck fractures (P < .001). There was no difference between infected group (IG) and uninfected fracture group (UG) with respect to age, sex, body mass index, tobacco, diabetes, vascular disease, open fracture type, wound location, hours to irrigation and debridement, or definitive treatment. The majority (92.6%) of UG fractures used a dual incision with open wound extension. There were more single extensile approaches in the IG group (P = .04). The IG required 5.8 TSP per patient compared with 2.1 in the UG (P = .004). All (100%) of the IG required an SSP compared with 29.6% of the UG (P = .006). All (100%) of the IG required an NSP compared to 40.7% of the UG (P = .043). In the IG, 2.8 NSPs per patient were required after definitive surgery compared with 1.18 in the UG (P = .003). Of those followed 1 year, the incidence of SSP remained higher in the IG (P = .016).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of deep infection following isolated open talar fractures is high and occurs disproportionally in body fractures. Infected fractures required nearly 6 surgeries, and all required SSP.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, prognostic.

A retrospective analysis of the definitive management of open talus fractures at a major trauma centre, comparing ORIF to FUSION: cohort study and audit of BOAST 4 guidelines

PURPOSE

Open talus fractures are notoriously difficult to manage, and they are commonly associated with a high level of complications including non-union, avascular necrosis and infection. Currently, the management of such injuries is based upon BOAST 4 guidelines although there is no suggested definitive management, and thus, definitive management is based upon surgeon preference. The key principles of open talus fracture management which do not vary between surgeons are early debridement, orthoplastic wound care, anatomic reduction and definitive fixation whenever possible. However, there is much debate over whether the talus should be preserved or removed after open talus fracture/dislocation and proceeded to tibiocalcaneal fusion.

METHODS

A review of electronic hospital records for open talus fractures from 2014 to 2021 returned fourteen patients with fifteen open talus fractures. Seven cases were initially managed with ORIF, and five cases were definitively managed with FUSION, while the others were managed with alternative methods. We collected patient's age, gender, surgical complications, surgical risk factors and post-treatment functional ability and pain and compliance with BOAST guidelines. The average follow-up of the cohort was 4 years and one month. EQ-5D-5L and FAAM-ADL/Sports score was used as a patient reported outcome measure. Data were analysed using the software PRISM.

RESULTS

Comparison between FUSION and ORIF groups showed no statistically significant difference in EQ-5D-5L score (P = 0.13), FAAM-ADL (P = 0.20), FAAM-Sport (P = 0.34), infection rate (P = 0.55), surgical times (P = 0.91) and time to weight bearing (P = 0.39), despite a higher proportion of polytrauma and Hawkins III and IV fractures in the FUSION group.

CONCLUSION

FUSION is typically used as second line to ORIF or failed ORIF. However, there is a lack of studies that directly compared outcome in open talus fracture patients definitively managed with FUSION or ORIF. Our results demonstrate for the first time that FUSION may not be inferior to ORIF in terms of patient functional outcome, infection rate and quality of life, in the management of patients with open talus fracture patients. Of note, as open talus fractures have increased risks of complications such as osteonecrosis and non-union, FUSION should be considered as a viable option to mitigate these potential complications in these patients.

Talar Body Fracture Treated by Hindfoot Endoscopic Reduction and Internal Fixation

Background

A talar body fracture is relatively rare. Surgical treatment for the fracture is generally indicated for the displaced fracture types and traditionally performed via open approaches. However, open approaches may not be able to achieve adequate exposure of the talus body owing to the difficulty in achieving reduction and fixation of the fracture. In this case report, we describe a case of talar body fracture treated by hindfoot endoscopic reduction and internal fixation. Case report. A 39-year-old man who was a carpenter complained of right hindfoot pain after he fell from a stepladder during work. Although plain radiographs of the right ankle showed no abnormal findings, noncontrast computed tomography demonstrated a fracture line from the lateral side of the posterior lateral process to the medial side of the talus body. In addition, the fracture line extended to the posterior ankle and subtalar joints, and the bone fragment was slightly displaced. We diagnosed him with the talar body fracture and performed operative treatments using hindfoot endoscopic reduction and internal fixation. At 14 weeks after the operation, he was able to return to work at the preinjury activity level without dysfunction of the ankle nor complications.

Conclusion

We reported a case of talar body fracture treated by hindfoot endoscopic reduction and internal fixation. In this case, the hindfoot endoscopic technique provided visualization of the fracture site with less invasiveness and increased safety, which enabled proper reduction and internal fixation of the fracture site. Therefore, the patient was able to return to work at the preinjury activity level at 14 weeks after surgery without dysfunction of the ankle nor complications. This surgical technique may be a useful option for the talar body fracture.