Unusual case of talus neck fracture in a paediatric patient

Abstract

Surgery:Patient underwent closed reduction and internal fixation with K wire. Post op ankle and foot radiographs showed fixation of fracture neck talus done with closed pinning using 3 K wires as shown in figures (b). Prognosis:A child's bones heal faster than an adult's because a thicker, stronger, and more active dense fibrous membrane (periosteum) covers the surface of their bones. ABSTRACTTalus fracture is a rare injury in a paediatric patient. Among talus fractures, the fracture of neck of talus is more common than fracture of body of talus. This can occur because of axial loading of the talus in a dorsiflexed foot against the anterior tibia. Children's bones are skeletally immature and hence less brittle. They have higher elastic resistance than adult bone and are less likely to fracture. However talus fractures can still occur in paediatric patients when there is history of high-energy trauma. It needs surgery and can be associated with complications like avascular necrosis, delayed union, neuropraxia and may need a revision surgery. Here we present an unusual case of a talar neck fracture in a young boy, which was a closed fracture without distal neurovascular deficit. Closed reduction and internal fixation was done with K wire and post op X-rays and follow up X-rays showed complete union. Patient has normal joint mobility and strength after a period of 1 year follow up.