1. The combined talus and sustentaculum fracture: A case series.
- Author
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Daryoush JR, Sato EH, Rothberg DL, Higgins TF, Haller JM, and Marchand LS
- Subjects
- Humans, Retrospective Studies, Male, Female, Adult, Treatment Outcome, Middle Aged, Subtalar Joint injuries, Subtalar Joint diagnostic imaging, Subtalar Joint surgery, Young Adult, Trauma Centers, Fracture Healing, Aged, Talus injuries, Talus diagnostic imaging, Talus surgery, Fracture Fixation, Internal methods, Fractures, Bone diagnostic imaging, Fractures, Bone surgery, Radiography
- Abstract
Background: The sustentaculum tali is a biomechanically important stabilizer of the hindfoot and contributes to articular congruency of the subtalar joint. Sustentaculum injury associated with a talus fracture has been described infrequently and treatment of this combined injury varies. The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate the outcomes of the combined talus and sustentaculum fracture., Methods: Retrospective chart and radiographic review was performed on all talus fractures (n = 436) requiring operative fixation over a 21-year period at a single Level-1 trauma center. All talus fractures with sustentaculum fractures were included. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-squared and Fishers exact tests where appropriate., Results: Sustentaculum fractures occurred in 6.2 % (n = 27) of patients with talus fractures. Average follow-up was 14 months; 18.5 % were open fractures, 88.8 % were from high-energy mechanisms, and 44.4 % were polytraumas. Diagnosis of the sustentaculum fracture was missed on presenting radiographs in 69.2 % (n = 18). The most common associated talus fracture was a talar neck fracture (40.7 %) and the majority (73.7 %) were Hawkins II. Overall, 40.7 % (n = 11) of the sustentaculum fractures were treated with independent fixation and 7.4 % (n = 2) were treated with acute subtalar arthrodesis. Subtalar post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) at final follow-up was seen in 23.1 % of combined injuries. Independent sustentaculum fixation did not influence the rate of PTOA or re-operation (p = 0.92, p = 0.91, respectively)., Conclusion: Talar fractures have an associated sustentaculum fracture in approximately 6 % of cases, especially with Hawkins II fracture-dislocations. Over two-thirds of the associated sustentaculum fractures were missed on presenting radiographs, reiterating the need for heightened awareness and consideration of advanced imaging for all talus fractures. The rate of PTOA following these combined injuries at mean follow-up of 24 months does not exceed established rates after isolated talus fractures. Further research is required to determine the optimal management of the sustentaculum in these combined injuries., Level of Evidence: IV., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest No author received any direct funding from any agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors specifically for this work. DLR receives reimbursement as an educator for AO Trauma North America and has stock ownership in Purgo Scientific. TFH receives grant funding through the U.S. Department of Defense, consulting fees from DePuy Synthes and Globus, has stock ownership in Orthogrid, SMV Holdings, NT nPhase, Imagen, and has leadership roles on the Orthopedic Trauma Association Board of Directors. JMH receives grant funding through the Arthritis Foundation, consulting fees from Stryker, Orthogrid, Osteocentric, Newclip Technics, is a participant on NIAMS Safety Officer for PA-20-206 advisory board, and has leadership roles for Orthopedic Trauma Association, Western Orthopedic Association, and AO Foundation. For the remaining authors, none were declared., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
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