Conservative treatment of talar dislocation: a case report

Dislocation of the talus is a rare and serious injury. The functional prognosis is poor due to osteonecrosis of the talus which develops in the majority of cases. We report a case of anterolateral dislocation-enucleation of the right talus (Cauchoix type II) in a 26-year-old work accident victim. Dislocation was caused by an indirect mechanism. Emergency reduction was performed by external manipulations without repair of the capsuloligamentary structures. At three years, the right ankle was pain free and stable. Motion was satisfactory: 10degrees dorsal flexion, 30degrees plantar flexion. Standard x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated moderate narrowing of the anterior talocrural and posterior subtalar joints.