Update on talar fracture patterns: a large level I trauma center study.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Trauma Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Prior talar fracture pattern studies are outdated and relied solely on radiography.
• Modern trauma care necessitates updated understanding of talar fracture patterns and associated injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize talar fracture patterns and associated injuries in a contemporary Level 1 trauma center.
• To evaluate the utility of radiography and computed tomography (CT) in diagnosing talar fractures.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of radiologic and clinical data for patients with acute talar fractures over 18 months.
• Descriptive statistical analysis of injury mechanisms and associated injuries.
• Comparison of radiography and CT for fracture detection.

Main Results:

• 132 talar fractures in 122 patients were identified; the talar body was the most common site (61%).
• Computed tomography (CT) provided additional information in 93% of cases and improved sensitivity for talar fracture detection compared to radiography (74%).
• Talar fractures were frequently associated with adjacent joint subluxation/dislocation (66%) and fractures (72%).

Conclusions:

• The talar body is the most common site for talar fractures.
• Existing classification systems are insufficient for characterizing most talar fractures.
• CT is essential for accurate talar fracture detection and characterization, highlighting a high incidence of associated injuries.