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Conservative treatment of subtalar dislocations
Dario Perugia1, Attilio Basile, Carlo Massoni
1Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. darioperugia@tiscalinet.it
International Orthopaedics
|April 17, 2002
Summary
Acute closed subtalar joint dislocations, when promptly treated, show favorable long-term outcomes. This study on 45 patients found good results with non-operative management for these foot and ankle injuries.
Area of Science:
- Orthopaedic Surgery
- Traumatology
- Podiatric Medicine
Background:
- Subtalar joint dislocations are rare injuries.
- Understanding outcomes of closed dislocations is crucial for treatment planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term outcomes of acute closed subtalar joint dislocations.
- To compare outcomes between medial and lateral dislocation types.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 45 patients with acute closed subtalar dislocations (1983-1998).
- Follow-up averaged 7.5 years.
- Functional outcomes assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Hindfoot Score.
Main Results:
- Mean AOFAS score was 84 at follow-up.
- Subtalar fusion was needed in only one case for instability.
- No significant difference in AOFAS scores between medial and lateral dislocations.
Conclusions:
- Prompt reduction and immobilization (4 weeks) of low-energy subtalar dislocations lead to favorable long-term results.
- Surgical fusion is rarely required for isolated closed subtalar dislocations.
- Both medial and lateral subtalar dislocations have similar favorable outcomes with appropriate management.