[Functional outcome of surgical therapy of talus fractures]

Forty-five patients with fractures of the talus were treated operatively at the Department of Surgery in Bergmannsheil Hospital between 1989 and 1995. Of these, 21 patients were operated on the day of the accident. The Marti/Weber classification system was used: 9 fractures were type I, 12 type II, 18 type III and 6 type IV. Twenty-five neck-fractures were classified according to Hawkins (type I-6, type II-10, type III-6, type IV-3). The mean time of follow-up was 37.3 months (minimum of 12 months). One patient needed a primary and 2 other patients a secondary arthrodesis of the ankle and subtalar joint; 2 others required arthrodesis of the talonavicular joint. Eleven patients showed no complaints at follow-up. Twenty-five reported complaints only during strenuous exercise, 5 others during walking and 3 patients reported initial pain when walking. The mean time of therapy was 22.5 weeks. As a consequence of trauma, 7 patients changed their jobs. The most important prerequisites for successful surgery are early reduction and stable osteosynthesis. Residual complaints are frequently seen. The rate of avascular necrosis (8% in fractures of the neck of the talus) and the necessity for arthrodesis was significantly diminished.