Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2022; 26(06): 635-643
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1760119
Review Article

Presurgical Perspective and Postsurgical Evaluation of Calcaneal and Talus Fractures

Thibault Willaume
1   MSK Imaging, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
,
1   MSK Imaging, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Fractures of the calcaneus and talus are severe injuries that usually result from high-energy trauma. The calcaneus and talus are essential for the transmission of body weight, so an optimal reduction and/or fixation of fractures is required to prevent disabling consequences. These fractures almost always have an articular involvement, and an anatomical reduction is required; any residual step-off would lead to joint incongruity and secondary arthrosis.

The aims of imaging are first, to guide management by describing the fracture characteristics (e.g., location, displacement, fragments, articular involvement, soft tissue compromise), and second, to detect early and late surgical complications (e.g., infection, malunion, nonunion, arthrosis, hardware issues). Although radiographs remain the first-line imaging modality for the screening of ankle and foot trauma, computed tomography is almost always required for the initial management and follow-up of the patient.



Publication History

Article published online:
15 February 2023

© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 
  • References

  • 1 Maskill JD, Bohay DR, Anderson JG. Calcaneus fractures: a review article. Foot Ankle Clin 2005; 10 (03) 463-489 , vi
  • 2 Sanders DW. Fractures and dislocations of the talus. In: Court-Brown CM, Heckmann JD, McQueen MM. et al, eds. Rockwood and Green's fractures in adults. 8th ed.. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer; 2015: 2593-2638
  • 3 Melenevsky Y, Mackey RA, Abrahams RB, Thomson III NB. Talar fractures and dislocations: a radiologist's guide to timely diagnosis and classification. Radiographics 2015; 35 (03) 765-779
  • 4 Galluzzo M, Greco F, Pietragalla M. et al. Calcaneal fractures: radiological and CT evaluation and classification systems. Acta Biomed 2018; 89 (1-S): 138-150
  • 5 Halai M, Hester T, Buckley RE. Does 3D CT reconstruction help the surgeon to preoperatively assess calcaneal fractures?. Foot 2020; 43: 101659
  • 6 Clare MP, Sanders RW. Calcaneum fractures. In: Court-Brown CM, Heckmann JD, McQueen MM. et al, eds. Rockwood and Green's fractures in adults. 8th ed.. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer; 2015: 2639-2688
  • 7 Bohl DD, Ondeck NT, Samuel AM. et al. Demographics, mechanisms of injury, and concurrent injuries associated with calcaneus fractures: a study of 14 516 patients in the American College of Surgeons National Trauma Data Bank. Foot Ankle Spec 2017; 10 (05) 402-410
  • 8 Haapasalo H, Laine HJ, Mäenpää H, Wretenberg P, Kannus P, Mattila VM. Epidemiology of calcaneal fractures in Finland. Foot Ankle Surg 2017; 23 (04) 321-324
  • 9 Lowery RB, Calhoun JH. Fractures of the calcaneus. Part I: Anatomy, injury mechanism, and classification. Foot Ankle Int 1996; 17 (04) 230-235
  • 10 Bierry G. Skeletal Trauma. Cambridge, MA: Elsevier Academic Press; 2021
  • 11 Rosenberg ZS, Feldman F, Singson RD. Intra-articular calcaneal fractures: computed tomographic analysis. Skeletal Radiol 1987; 16 (02) 105-113
  • 12 White EA, Skalski MR, Matcuk Jr GR. et al. Intra-articular tongue-type fractures of the calcaneus: anatomy, injury patterns, and an approach to management. Emerg Radiol 2019; 26 (01) 67-74
  • 13 Chhabra N, Sherman SC, Szatkowski JP. Tongue-type calcaneus fractures: a threat to skin. Am J Emerg Med 2013; 31: 1151
  • 14 Knight JR, Gross EA, Bradley GH, Bay C, LoVecchio F. Boehler's angle and the critical angle of Gissane are of limited use in diagnosing calcaneus fractures in the ED. Am J Emerg Med 2006; 24 (04) 423-427
  • 15 Loucks C, Buckley R. Bohler's angle: correlation with outcome in displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures. J Orthop Trauma 1999; 13 (08) 554-558
  • 16 Bhattacharya R, Vassan UT, Finn P, Port A. Sanders classification of fractures of the os calcis. An analysis of inter- and intra-observer variability. J Bone Joint Surg Br 2005; 87 (02) 205-208
  • 17 Hirschmann A, Walter WR, Alaia EF, Garwood E, Amsler F, Rosenberg ZS. Acute fracture of the anterior process of calcaneus: does it herald a more advanced injury to Chopart joint?. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2018; 210 (05) 1123-1130
  • 18 Lowery RB, Calhoun JH. Fractures of the calcaneus. Part II: Treatment. Foot Ankle Int 1996; 17 (06) 360-366
  • 19 Gotha HE, Zide JR. Current controversies in management of calcaneus fractures. Orthop Clin North Am 2017; 48 (01) 91-103
  • 20 Janzen DL, Connell DG, Munk PL, Buckley RE, Meek RN, Schechter MT. Intraarticular fractures of the calcaneus: value of CT findings in determining prognosis. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1992; 158 (06) 1271-1274
  • 21 Molloy AP, Lipscombe SJ. Hindfoot arthrodesis for management of bone loss following calcaneus fractures and nonunions. Foot Ankle Clin 2011; 16 (01) 165-179
  • 22 Morgan A, Kim PS, Christman RA. 2003 William J. Stickel Bronze Award. Radiographic anatomy of the talus. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 2003; 93 (06) 449-480
  • 23 Ebraheim NA, Sabry FF, Nadim Y. Internal architecture of the talus: implication for talar fracture. Foot Ankle Int 1999; 20 (12) 794-796
  • 24 Dale JD, Ha AS, Chew FS. Update on talar fracture patterns: a large level I trauma center study. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2013; 201 (05) 1087-1092
  • 25 Bonvin F, Montet X, Copercini M, Martinoli C, Bianchi S. Imaging of fractures of the lateral process of the talus, a frequently missed diagnosis. Eur J Radiol 2003; 47 (01) 64-70
  • 26 Canale ST. Fractures of the neck of the talus. Orthopedics 1990; 13 (10) 1105-1115
  • 27 Mourad L. Aviator's astragalus. Calcaneal fracture. Orthop Nurs 1996; 15 (06) 26
  • 28 Alton T, Patton DJ, Gee AO. Classifications in brief: The Hawkins classification for talus fractures. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2015; 473 (09) 3046-3049
  • 29 Jordan RK, Bafna KR, Liu J, Ebraheim NA. Complications of talar neck fractures by Hawkins classification: a systematic review. J Foot Ankle Surg 2017; 56 (04) 817-821
  • 30 Calvert E, Younger A, Penner M. Post talus neck fracture reconstruction. Foot Ankle Clin 2007; 12 (01) 137-151
  • 31 Pearse MF, Fowler JL, Bracey DJ. Fracture of the body of the talus. Injury 1991; 22 (02) 155-156
  • 32 Parks KE, Rowe TM. Vertical fracture through the body of the talus. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2014; 44 (09) 722
  • 33 Early JS. Management of fractures of the talus: body and head regions. Foot Ankle Clin 2004; 9 (04) 709-722
  • 34 Langer P, DiGiovanni C. Incidence and pattern types of fractures of the lateral process of the talus. Am J Orthop 2008; 37 (05) 257-258
  • 35 Hawkins LG. Fracture of the lateral process of the talus. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1965; 47: 1170-1175
  • 36 Ibrahim MS, Jordan R, Lotfi N, Chapman AW. Talar head fracture: a case report, systematic review and suggested algorithm of treatment. Foot 2015; 25 (04) 258-264
  • 37 Kou JX, Fortin PT. Commonly missed peritalar injuries. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2009; 17 (12) 775-786
  • 38 Parekh SG, Kadakia RJ. Avascular necrosis of the talus. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2021; 29 (06) e267-e278
  • 39 Haskell A. Natural history of avascular necrosis in the talus: when to operate. Foot Ankle Clin 2019; 24 (01) 35-45
  • 40 Tezval M, Dumont C, Stürmer KM. Prognostic reliability of the Hawkins sign in fractures of the talus. J Orthop Trauma 2007; 21 (08) 538-543
  • 41 Moger NM, Pragadeeshwaran J, Verma A, K v A, Aditya KS, Meena PK. Outcome of neglected talus neck fracture and its management: a case report. J Orthop Case Rep 2021; 11 (04) 41-44