Treatment of Chopart Fracture-Dislocations

The Chopart articular space was used by François Chopart (1743-1795) as a practical space for amputation in cases of distal foot tumor. It corresponds to the center of the foot and allows for essential articulation by means of the talo-calcaneo-navicular joint (coxa pedis). Chopart fracture-dislocations may therefore include fractures of the navicular, the cuboid, the talus, and calcaneus. The treatment priorities should therefore include addressing all of the injured soft tissues by immediate joint reduction or restoring bony alignment, including the avoidance of threatening compartment syndromes. Subsequent anatomical bone and joint reconstruction, if possible, should first address the talar head and the navicular. The anterior process of the calcaneus and the cuboid should be aligned to preserve foot alignment in the sagittal and horizontal planes. In severe joint destructions, isolated fusion of the calcaneo-cuboidal joint may help preserve functional mobility of the foot. Isolated or associated talo-navicular fusion considerably limits functional mobility of the foot.