The talus is a small bone in the ankle joint that links the heel bone to the two bones of the lower leg, allowing the foot to move up and down. A break in the talus can happen due to falling from a height, being in a car crash, or twisting the ankle. Common signs may include intense ankle pain, difficulty walking, swelling, and soreness.
When you visit the clinic with these symptoms, your doctor will conduct a complete physical exam and may request an X-ray or CT scan to determine where the fracture is and how serious it is. Talus fractures can be treated with either non-surgical or surgical approaches.
Non-surgical treatment: If the bone has not moved out of alignment, your doctor will place your ankle in a cast for 6 to 8 weeks. You will be advised to perform exercises to help strengthen your foot and ankle and restore range of motion once the cast is removed.
Surgical treatment: Your surgeon will realign the fractured bone and fix it in the correct position using metal plates and/or screws. Any small pieces of bone that are not properly aligned may be removed and replaced with bone graft material. Following the operation, you might need to wear a cast for a period of 6 to 8 weeks to allow the bone to heal completely. Once the healing process is underway, physical therapy exercises will begin to help restore your range of motion.
