Orthopedics Fractures & Broken Bones Talus Fracture of the Ankle By Jonathan Cluett, MD Jonathan Cluett, MD LinkedIn Twitter Jonathan Cluett, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with subspecialty training in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery. Learn about our editorial process Updated on June 17, 2022 Medically reviewed by Yaw Boachie-Adjei, MD Medically reviewed by Yaw Boachie-Adjei, MD LinkedIn Yaw Boachie-Adjei, MD, is a board-certified, double-fellowship Orthopedic Surgeon at Kaiser Permanente in Georgia. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Treatment Complications Recovery The talus is one of the major bones that form the ankle joint and serves as an important link between the leg and foot. It's also a unique bone, as it's over half covered with cartilage that provides cushion and allows bones to move more freely against each other. The talus contributes to motion not only at the ankle joint but also below the ankle at the subtalar joint and in the midfoot at the talonavicular joint. Injuries to the talus can have a significant effect on the motion of your ankle and foot joints and limit your ability to walk and bear weight. Talus fractures are most often seen in car and motorcycle crashes, snowboarding accidents, and severe falls. Talus fractures were almost unheard of a hundred years ago. The first ones were described in British Royal Air Force pilots in the early 1900s. The term "aviators astragalus" was used to describe these fractures that happened as old warplanes made crash landings. Symptoms Talus fracture causes significant ankle pain, difficulty bearing weight on the ankle, and swelling around the ankle joint. These symptoms warrant going to the healthcare provider right away. Expect to have an X-ray and ankle exam to determine whether it's a fracture or other type of injury. Verywell / Alexandra Gordon The most common symptoms of talus fractures include: Swelling around the ankle jointPain with movement of the ankleFracture blistersBruising of the skinInability to place weight on the joint Treatment Options Treatment of a talus fracture depends on the extent of the injury. If the fracture is not out of position, a cast may be sufficient for treatment. If the fracture is out of position, then surgery may be recommended to realign the broken bones and stabilize them with screws or pins. Complications Three major complications commonly occur with talus fractures: Ankle arthritisMalunionOsteonecrosis Other potential problems include infection, nonunion, foot deformity, and chronic pain. Ankle Arthritis Arthritis is common after a talus fracture because when the cartilage is injured, the normally smooth joint surface becomes uneven. These irregularities can lead to accelerated wear in the joint, and ultimately to arthritis. Because so much of the bone is covered with cartilage, arthritis may occur above the talus at the ankle joint, or below the talus at the subtalar joint. Even with surgical treatment of a talus fracture, the development of arthritis is common. Malunion Malunion means that the break has healed, but the position where the bone healed is not anatomically correct. This can lead to a number of different problems, especially with foot fractures where altered alignment can lead to long-term problems and difficulty walking. Nonunion Complication of Broken Bones Osteonecrosis Osteonecrosis, or avascular necrosis, is a problem that is found commonly in the talus. Because of the pattern of blood supply to the talus bone, it can be disrupted when the bone is injured in a fracture. Without a blood supply, the bone cells can die (osteonecrosis) and lead to a collapse of the bone. Even with surgery to realign the bone and hold the fragments in position, damaged blood supply may lead to this problematic complication. Recovery The recovery from a talus fracture can be lengthy because until the bone is healed, you cannot place weight on your foot. Therefore, most talus fractures require a minimum of six to 12 weeks of protection from weight-bearing. In more significant injuries, the time may be longer. Studies have shown that the ultimate outcome of patients correlates with the extent of the initial injury. (So the worse the injury, the more on-going issues you're likely to have.) During or after the healing process, your healthcare provider may start you on a rehab program of physical therapy to regain: Range of motionStabilityStrength You may have to use a cane or wear a special boot and may not be able to put your full weight on your foot for two to three months. Periodic X-rays Only time will tell if you'll develop arthritis or osteonecrosis, so your healthcare provider will likely get periodic X-rays to determine the health of the bone and how it's healing. 8 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Barnett JR, Ma A, Khan W, O'Gorman A. The diagnosis, management and complications associated with fractures of the talus. Open Orthop J. 2017;11:460-466. doi:10.2174/1874325001711010460 Coltart WD. Aviator's astragalus. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1952;34-B(4):545-66. Russell TG, Byerly DW. Talus fracture. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Early JS. Talus fracture management. Foot Ankle Clin. 2008;13(4):635-57. doi:10.1016/j.fcl.2008.08.005 Sundararajan SR, Badurudeen AA, Ramakanth R, Rajasekaran S. Management of talar body fractures. Indian J Orthop. 2018;52(3):258-268. doi:10.4103/ortho.IJOrtho_563_17 Sakaki MH, Macedo RS, Godoy dos santos AL, Ortiz RT, Sposeto RB, Fernandes TD. Talar body reconstruction for nonunions and malunions. Indian J Orthop. 2018;52(3):276-283. doi:10.4103/ortho.IJOrtho_423_17 Matthews AH, Stitson D. Osteonecrosis (avascular necrosis). In: Stat pearls [Internet]. Majeed H, Mcbride DJ. Talar process fractures: An overview and update of the literature. EFORT Open Rev. 2018;3(3):85-92. doi:10.1302/2058-5241.3.170040 Additional Reading American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: OrthoInfo. Talus fractures. By Jonathan Cluett, MD Jonathan Cluett, MD, is board-certified in orthopedic surgery. He served as assistant team physician to Chivas USA (Major League Soccer) and the United States men's and women's national soccer teams. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? 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