Results of the Treatment of Talar Neck Fractures in a West African Hospital

Abstract

Talar neck fractures (TNFs) are complex injuries and treatment is fraught with complications. We retrospectively studied 18 patients with TNFs: 6 Hawkins type-I, 7 type-II, 4 type-III, and 1 type-IV. Five patients with type-I and 2 with type-II fractures were treated conservatively. The remaining 11 patients underwent operative treatment. Open reduction via posterolateral approach was performed in 10 patients while closed reduction was used in one patient. All operatively reduced fractures were stabilized with screws. The following postoperative complications were encountered: wound dehiscence (n=1), avascular necrosis (n=2), and post-traumatic osteoarthritis (n=12). Fifteen patients were available for final evaluation at a mean follow- up period of three years (range 10 months to 6 years). Using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, the mean for type-I fracture was 96.4 points, 80.2 points for type-II, 68.5 points for type-III and 55 points for type-IV fractures. TNFs remain a devastating injury as the prognosis and outcomes of treatment continued to be hampered by the consequences of injury.

Keywords

• Developing World
• Talar Neck Fractures
• Treatment Outcome