Talar Fracture

Abstract

Pediatric talar fractures are very rare and account for less than 10% of all talar fractures reported in the literature. Most of what we know about pediatric fractures comes from adult literature as there are only a few studies in children. Fractures of the neck of the talus are more common than talar body or talar head fractures. The mechanism of injury is dorsiflexion and axial loading. If there is a supination component, it may result in malleolar fractures. In a young child, initial radiographic evidence of fracture can be subtle. As with most children fractures, treatment of young children is usually non-operative, and excellent outcomes can be expected with cast immobilization alone. Treatment of adolescents is more similar to that of adults, with comparable results and a high risk for avascular necrosis (AVN) and post-traumatic arthrosis in displaced fractures. In recent years due to increased participation in high-impact sports and driving cars, the incidence of talar fractures in children has increased. It is important to understand outcomes and complications of talar fractures in children as great disability can often follow fractures of the talus.