Dual Approach to Talar Body Fractures Increases Talar Dome Access for Fracture Care without Osteotomy

Abstract

Category: Trauma; Ankle; Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: No consensus surgical treatment algorithm exists for talar body fractures, with authors recommending both soft-tissue and osteotomy-based approaches. This study evaluated the utility of dual approaches to the talar dome through anterolateral transligamentous (ATL) and modified posteromedial (mPM) approaches, both with and without distraction. Methods: Ten cadaveric legs (5 matched pairs) were included. A mPM approach, between FHL and Achilles tendon, and an ATL approach, utilizing an anterolateral incision with transection of the ATFL and CFL fibular insertions, were performed on each specimen. Order of approach was alternated within each pair. Accessible dome surface area (DSA) was outlined by drilling with a 1.6-mm Kirschner wire at the visualized talar dome margin both with and without 4mm of tibiotalar distraction. Specimens were analyzed by micro-computed tomography. Primary outcome was total accessible DSA. Student's t-tests compared DSA accessed by different exposure methods. Results: An initial mPM approach allowed access to 25.6% and 33.6% of DSA without and with distraction (p=0.002). An initial ATL approach provided access to 47.0% and 58.1% of DSA without and with distraction, respectively (p=0.003). No significant difference in DSA accessibility were observed for either approach when they were performed second. Accessibility via dual approaches was 71.7% and 93% of DSA without and with distraction with an initial ATL approach and 71.3% and 87.5% of DSA without and with distraction with an initial mPM approach (p=0.96 and 0.37, respectively). (Figure 1) Conclusion: Dual approaches provided access to greater than 70% and 85% of DSA without and with distraction. Order of approach did not change access. These results may promote soft-tissue only treatment strategies in talar body fracture care.