Comparison between percutaneous and open reduction for treating paediatric talar neck fractures

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Pediatric orthopedics
• Traumatology

Background:

• Talar neck fractures are common in children.
• Conventional open surgery has limitations in treating these fractures.
• Percutaneous reduction offers a minimally invasive alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate percutaneous reduction and fixation for pediatric talar neck fractures.
• To compare the outcomes of percutaneous reduction with conventional open surgery.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 23 children (group A) treated with percutaneous reduction and 26 children (group B) treated with open surgery.
• Fractures were closed, two-part talar neck fractures.
• Outcomes assessed included bone healing time, range of motion, and functional results.

Main Results:

• All patients in the percutaneous group achieved bone healing in a mean of 8 weeks with excellent or good functional outcomes.
• The open surgery group had a higher rate of nonunion (5/26) and avascular necrosis (3/26), with slower healing (mean 11 weeks) and statistically significant differences in ankle motion and function.
• Percutaneous reduction demonstrated significantly faster bone healing and superior functional outcomes (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Percutaneous reduction is a successful and effective technique for managing pediatric talar neck fractures.
• This minimally invasive approach leads to more rapid bone healing and better functional recovery compared to traditional open surgery.