[Surgical treatment for open dislocation of talus]

To evaluate the clinical effects of surgical treatment for open dislocation of talus.

From June 2001 to July 2008,the complete data of 11 patients with open dislocations of talus were retrospectively analyzed, including 8 males and 3 females with an average age of 39.5 years (ranged 19 to 52). According to Gustilo typing, type I was in 2 cases, type II in 6 cases, type III A in 2 cases, type III B in 1 case. Five cases were tibial astragaloid joint dislocation in which 3 cases associated with subtalar joint dislocation, 4 cases were subtalar joint dislocation and 2 cases were total dislocation of talus. Among them, 8 dislocations associated with talus fractures. All patients were treated with debridement, open reduction, internal fixation with K-wires or screws and external fixation with plaster or external fixator within 8 hours after injury. External fixations were removed at 6 weeks after operation. Partial weight bearing was permitted only when X-rays indicated bony healing. Clinical effects were evaluated according to AOFAS system and X-ray films during follow-up.

The mean time of follow-up was 13.8 months(ranged 10 to 15 months). Eight patients with fractures obtained bone healing in 4-7 months with an average of 4.3 months. No infection of wound or deep tissue was found. At final follow-up, talus necrosis was in 2 cases and traumatic arthritis was in 2 cases. The AOFAS score was 71.3 +/- 8.6, among the total, the pain, function, alignment was respectively (32.4 +/- 7.1), (31.0 +/- 15.7), (7.6 +/- 2.3) scores.

Complete debridement may avoid infection in treating open dislocation of talus, early reduction and fixation is a key point during treatment.