Atalusfracture can cause swelling and pain.
Talus fractures are most often seen in car and motorcycle crashes, snowboarding accidents, and severe falls.
Talus fractures were almost unheard of 100 years ago.
Verywell / Alexandra Gordon
The first ones were described in British Royal Air Force pilots in the early 1900s.
What Is a Talus Fracture?
Thetalusis the bone located at the top of the foot.
The most common place for a talus fracture is in the middle of the bone, called the neck.
It takes a lot of energy for the talus to break.
Talus fractures are seen in high-energy events like a car crash or a fall from a significant height.
However, sporting injuries can also cause talus fractures.
Snowboarding, for example, is a common cause of lateral process fractures.
Your healthcare provider will perform a physical examination by checking your symptoms and reviewing your medical history.
You will likely need anX-rayand, if necessary, acomputerized tomography (CT) scan.
A CT scan reveals more detailed information about how severe the fracture is.
Treating a Talus Fracture
Treatment of a talus fracture depends on the extent of the injury.
Talus fractures tend to be very painful.
If the fracture is not out of position, you may not need surgery.
A cast or a splint may be sufficient for treatment in these cases.
In rare cases, the bone can be so badly broken thatfusion surgeryis necessary.
You may be asked to go back in for X-rays during post-operative care.
The X-rays will show how well your bones are healing.
These irregularities can lead to accelerated wear in the joint, and ultimately to arthritis.
Even with surgical treatment of a talus fracture, the development of arthritis is common.
If severe, ankle arthritis may require further treatment.
Malunions are rare, however.
Osteonecrosis
Osteonecrosis, or avascular necrosis, is a problem that is found commonly in the talus.
Injury to the talus can interrupt the supply of blood to the bone.
Sometimes the blood supply returns on its own, but when it doesn’t, the bone cells die.
This condition leads to a slow and painful collapse of the bone.
The more severe the fracture, the more likely osteonecrosis is to occur.
It’s very important to properly care for a talus fracture and give yourself time to heal.
Some people have ankle pain, stiffness, and swelling that continue even after the bone heals.
With enough time, however, these symptoms can improve.
Summary
A talus fracture is a painful break of one of the major bones of the ankle.
It can cause significant swelling and bruising.
Common causes include motor vehicle collisions, falls from a significant height, andsports injuries.
Get checked out by a healthcare provider if you think you have a talus fracture.
Treatment may be as simple as a cast or a splint, or it may involve surgery.
Either way, you’ll want to keep your weight off the injured ankle at first.
Gradually you’ll be able to add more and more weight as the bone heals.
The healing process can take a while.
Be gentle with yourself during recovery and give your bones time to heal.
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