Isolated Medial Subtalar Joint Dislocation during Soccer (Football) Game: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Ankles injuries are common in sports such as football and soccer and one of the most serious and most rare is the subtalar dislocation. This injury is rare, touches young male patients and usually associated to fractures of the talus, the malleoli or the fifth metatarsal. Usually, this injury occurs in high-energy trauma, but it is very rare in sports injuries. Here we present the case of a 36-year-old male with an isolated Medial Subtalar Joint Dislocation after a severe tackle in a football (soccer) game. We performed a closed reduction under general anesthesia, and then a short-leg cast was applied for 4 weeks, followed by active and passive range of motion. At one-year follow up from trauma, the patient had a pain-free ankle with active full range of motion. For isolated medial subtalar dislocation occurring during sports activities, the first choice is the conservative treatment: Immediate closed reduction needs to be achieved followed by a short immobilization. Active/passive range of motion need to be started early to avoid joint stiffness.