Fracture of Talus in foot

Whilst on holiday in Spain I fell approx 6 ft with full force downwards on my left foot.  The Spanish doctors initially saw no break, but a second doctor noticed a break in the talus bone and put my leg in a half cast for support whilst travelling back by plane to England.  Once home I went to hospital thinking they would put the leg in a full cast but the doctor said I had just severe swelling and couldn't see a break!! I have a tubular bandage now and obviously am still in a great deal of pain.  Do I need a second opinion. Regards.

[Dakota102010]

With a Fracture of the talus, there are different stages of the fracture. It all depends on the severity of the injury. I have whats called a Hawkins fracture type 3 ( http://www.joint-pain-expert.net/talus-fracture.html ). this website is quite informative. I had to have ORIF surgery and they had to screw the bone back together because it was broken into two halves between the head and the body. Ive been non weight bearing for 15 weeks and will be for 4 more. I had full casts to the knee for 8 weeks, and then switched to a cam walker air cast/boot. I will have the cam walker/boot for 6-8 more weeks and then swtich to a brace, no more crutches and a cane. Union usually takes 3 to 4 months. There can be a delay in union and the fracture can take upto 18 months for union.Delay in union is thought to occur because the talus has a poor and fragile blood supply. Avascular necrosis is it's self not a big problem. The problem occurs when after avascular necrosis the body of the talus collapses. This leads to arthritis of the subtalar and ankle joints. This arthritis requires fusion of the joints.

Collapse after avascular necrosis does not always occur. Even in the presence of avascular necrosis the fracture can unite. After fracture union the avascular body of the talus is protected by using a patellar-tendon bearing brace. Use of this brace is continued till revascularization (blood supply to the talus body develops again) of the talus body occurs. This can take up to 3 to 4 years.

I would definatly reccommend that you get a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon, and express your concern on the development of AVN.

Hope this helps,

[Dakota102010]

With a Fracture of the talus, there are different stages of the fracture. It all depends on the severity of the injury. I have whats called a Hawkins fracture type 3 ( http://www.joint-pain-expert.net/talus-fracture.html ). this website is quite informative. I had to have ORIF surgery and they had to screw the bone back together because it was broken into two halves between the head and the body. Ive been non weight bearing for 15 weeks and will be for 4 more. I had full casts to the knee for 8 weeks, and then switched to a cam walker air cast/boot. I will have the cam walker/boot for 6-8 more weeks and then swtich to a brace, no more crutches and a cane. Union usually takes 3 to 4 months. There can be a delay in union and the fracture can take upto 18 months for union.Delay in union is thought to occur because the talus has a poor and fragile blood supply. Avascular necrosis is it's self not a big problem. The problem occurs when after avascular necrosis the body of the talus collapses. This leads to arthritis of the subtalar and ankle joints. This arthritis requires fusion of the joints.

Collapse after avascular necrosis does not always occur. Even in the presence of avascular necrosis the fracture can unite. After fracture union the avascular body of the talus is protected by using a patellar-tendon bearing brace. Use of this brace is continued till revascularization (blood supply to the talus body develops again) of the talus body occurs. This can take up to 3 to 4 years.

I would definatly reccommend that you get a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon, and express your concern on the development of AVN.

Hope this helps,