Traumatic Injury to the Subtalar Joint

Abstract

Traumatic injury to the subtalar joint occurs during subtalar dislocations, talar and calcaneal fractures, and fracture-dislocations. After closed reduction of subtalar dislocations, peripheral talar or calcaneal fractures need to be ruled out by computed tomography scanning. In fractures and fracture-dislocations of the talus and calcaneus involving the subtalar joint, anatomic reconstruction of joint congruity is essential for functional rehabilitation. Failure to anatomically reduce the subtalar joint potentially leads to chronic instability, subtalar arthritis and posttraumatic hindfoot deformity. Despite adequate management, subtalar arthritis may develop as a result of primary cartilage damage at the time of injury.

Keywords: Arthritis; Calcaneal fracture; Cartilage; Subtalar dislocation; Sustentacular fracture; Talar fracture; Talar process fracture.