[Traumatic osteochondral lesions of the talar dome]

Trauma is currently accepted to be the main etiologic factor causing OCL of the talus. Displaced lesions are easily recognized clinically and radiographically and treated surgically. In other cases, radiographic findings are often remarkably discrete or even absent. If symptoms persist, surgical treatment is warranted. In our series of 27 patients with traumatic talar OCL, operative treatment achieved good/excellent results in 88% of primary cases and good/excellent results in 80% of recurrent cases. The interval between trauma and surgery averaged 20 months (6-60). No radiographic signs of arthritic changes were observed at 2-11 years follow-up. All lesions were treated by arthroscopic excision, curettage and drilling, and this is currently the treatment of choice.