Isolated pure posteromedial tibiotalar joint dislocation unassociated with fracture: A case report

Isolated tibiotalar dislocation is an extremely rare injury. They are most often caused by high-energy trauma.

The authors report the case of an acute pure posteromedial tibiotalar joint dislocation in a 45-year-old patient, which occurred as a result of a road traffic accident. The reduction was performed as an emergency procedure under general anesthesia, followed by a 6-week cast immobilization. Twenty months after the injury, at the last follow-up, a very good functional result was observed, with a stable and painless ankle and satisfactory mobility.

A pure dislocation of the tibiotalar joint without an associated fracture is a rare injury. The posterior type is the most common dislocation. Treatments include close reduction, short leg cast immobilization, and open dislocation. However, certain factors can lead to unfavorable outcomes, such as delayed therapy, damage to the inferior tibiotalar ligaments, anterior tibial artery rupture, and soft tissue damage.

It is rare for a tibiotalar joint dislocations to occur as an isolated injury. The necessity of immediate orthopedic intervention in the management of this lesion is demonstrated by our observation.