Long-term follow-up after surgical treatment of talar fractures: Twenty cases with an average follow-up of 7.5 years.

Displaced talar neck and body fractures are rare and serious injuries with important outcomes. The aim of our study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of these fractures after operative treatment in our centre between 1993 and 2005. Displaced talar fractures have a high rate of long-term complications. This was a retrospective study concerning 20 patients with an average follow-up of 7.5 years. The final follow-up examination included determination of the AHS score (ankle-hindfoot scale) from the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), range of motion evaluation and radiological analysis. Mean age at the time of trauma was 38.8 years. This study comprised ten talar neck fractures and ten talar body fractures. We always used a single surgical approach and obtained anatomical reduction in 30% of the whole series of both groups. Four early complications were noted in four patients (20%). We noted no skin complications and the rate of consolidation was 100%. Four patients (20%) developed avascular necrosis of the talus, and at final follow-up seven patients (35%) had undergone secondary surgery. Radiographic analysis showed an osteoarthritis rate of 94% and a malunion rate of 59%. The mean AOFAS score was 66.9/100 and range of motion was systematically decreased. Contrary to undisplaced talar fractures, displaced talar fractures are a therapeutic challenge with many early or late complications. The outcome often revealed stiffness and osteoarthritis.

Long-term results of in situ subtalar arthrodesis.

Isolated subtalar disorders often require subtalar arthrodesis. In this retrospective study of 28 in situ subtalar arthrodeses reviewed with a median follow-up of 56 months (range, 20-115), the authors attempted to detail the outcomes of in situ subtalar fusion, the consequences on adjacent joints and to determine clinical or radiological factors of failure. Clinical evaluation was realised with the AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) ankle hindfoot score. Radiographic evaluation included assessment of hindfoot alignment, subtalar fusion and arthritic evolution in the adjacent joints. The median functional score was 76.5/94 (range, 36-94). All 28 arthrodeses achieved union. Mild arthritic changes occurred in 43-65% in the different adjacent joints. These changes were not symptomatic. Varus malunion and clinical nonunion seem to be the most important causes of failure.

Distal tibia fractures: management and complications of 101 cases.

Distal tibia fractures are complex injuries with a high complication rate. In this retrospective and multicentre study we attempted to detail complications and outcomes of this type of injury in order to determine predictive factors of poor results. Between 2002 and 2004, 104 patients were admitted for 105 distal tibia fractures. One hundred patients (101 fractures) were reviewed with an average follow-up of 19 months (range, 12-46). Internal fixation, external fixation, limited internal fixation (K-wires or screws), intramedullary nailing and conservative treatment were used. Outcome parameters included occurrence of complications, radiographic analysis, evaluation of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle score and measures of the ankle range of motion. The average functional score was 76 points (range, 30-100 points), and complications occurred in 30 patients. Predictive factors of poor results were fracture severity, complications, malunion and the use of external fixation. We believe that external fixation must be reserved for trauma with severe skin injury, as a temporary solution in a two-staged protocol. For other cases, we recommend ORIF with early mobilisation.