Is there a relationship between talar osteochondral lesions and foot angles?

We aimed to evaluate the relationship between talar osteochondral defects (OCDs) and foot angles in this study.

We performed a retrospective study that included 25 patients with talar OCD and 29 patients without OCD who underwent magnetic resonance imaging in our department between September 2013 and January 2015. We retrospectively measured the foot angles (Bohler's angle, lateral talocalcaneal angle and calcaneal inclination angle) on ankle radiographs in both groups.

Bohler's angle showed no significant differences between the patients (range 20.50°-48.10°, mean 33.40° ± 6.09°) and the control group (range18.80°-42.40°, mean 31.95° ± 4.21°) (p = 0.397). Calcaneal inclination angle showed no significant differences between the patients (range 3°-29.2°, mean 20.55° ± 6.73°) and the control group (range 10.20°-29.80° mean 20.47° ± 4.21°) (p = 0.956). However, talocalcaneal angle was significantly higher in the patients (range 27.80°-44.80°, median 39.50° ± 6.18°) compared with the control group (range 22.60°-40.50°, median 34.10° ± 4.26°) (p = 0.032).

There is an association between lateral talocalcaneal angle and non-traumatic talar OCD.