Abstract
The outcomes of pediatric talus fractures have been minimally reported in published
studies. The purpose of the present retrospective study was to determine the clinical
and radiographic outcomes after talus fractures in pediatric and adolescent patients
and to define the differences among the different age groups in this population. A
total of 52 children and adolescents (54 fractures) with 24 type 1 (44.44%), 13 type
2 (24.07%), 8 type 3 (14.81%), and 9 type 4 (16.67%) Marti-Weber fractures were considered.
Of the 52 patients, 19 (35.19%; 21 talus fractures) with follow-up data available
for >12 months were included in the final study population. Of the 21 fractures, 9
(42.86 %) were type 1, 4 (19.05%) were type 2, 1 (4.76%) was type 3, and 7 (33.33%)
were type 4. The mean patient age was 14.7 (range 4 to 18) years. The patients were
divided into 3 age groups: group 1, age ≤11.9 years; group 2, age 12.0 to 15.8 years;
and group 3, age 16.1 to 18.0 years. Of the 21 fractures, 3 (14.29%) were treated
nonoperatively and 18 (85.71%) operatively. The overall mean follow-up duration was
40.3 (range 14 to 95) months. The outcomes of interest included fracture nonunion,
talar avascular necrosis, ankle range of motion, pain, arthrosis, and arthrodesis.
After treatment, the mean ankle range of motion was 20° (range 0° to 35°) of dorsiflexion
and 40° (range 0° to 45°) of plantarflexion. Complications included persistent pain
in 10 fractures (47.62%), 3 cases of nonunion (14.29%), 3 cases of avascular necrosis
(14.29%; of which, 1 [4.76%] required ankle and subtalar fusion), and arthrosis developing
in ≥1 surrounding joint in 12 fractures (57.14%). Of the 12 fractures in group 3,
9 (75.00%) developed arthrosis and 2 (16.67%) subsequently required arthrodesis. Our
observations suggest that the incidence of displaced talus fractures, as well as complications,
increases with patient age.
Level of Clinical Evidence
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 02, 2018
Footnotes
Financial Disclosure: None reported.
Conflict of Interest: None reported.
Identification
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© 2017 by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. All rights reserved.
