• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2000

Nonunion and avascular necrosis are well-recognized complications of severe ankle injury especially aftrer talar neck fracture. The treatment of avascular necrosis is controversial and methods of treatment are limited. Many modalities have been introduced for the treatment of avascular necrosis of talus. The prolonged non-weight bearing for 2~3 years is not practical but also is occasionally complicated by late segmental collapse. Operative treatment includes tibiotalar arthrodesis and talectomy with tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis, but arthrodesis in patients with talar avascular necrosis is technically demanding and cause stiff, immobile foot and relatively high failure rate was reported. It is desirable to preserve their original joint if possible. Vascularized fibular grafting has been reported as a joint preserving treatment option for osteonecrosis of the hip but has not been described for the ankle. The authors applied free vascularized fibular grafts for 3 cases of avascular necrosis of talus. We observed evidences of revascularization of necrotic talar body and progression of fracture healing and obtained satisfactory results at mean 8 months of follow-up. Vascularized fibular grafting is one of the better alternatives for treating avascular necrosis of talus. It is expected that vascularized fibular grafting can prevent the necrotic talar dome from progressing to collapse and promote directly restored vascularization and new bone formation.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 1999

Avascular necrosis is a significant late complication of talar neck fracture. However, treatment for early stage avascular necrosis has been not established. Two patients with post-traumatic avascular necrosis of talus treated with vascular pedicle graft using lateral tarsal artery were reviewed to determine the efficacy of procedure. The procedure involved grafting the lateral tarsal artery and vein into a hole made in the talus through a anterolateral approach. Follow-up was 12 and 24 months respectively. Two patients had significant pain relief, improved function, no worsening of their radiologic staging. The results are promising enough to recommend consideration of this procedure in early stages of avascular necrosis.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.83-86
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• 2000

A vascular necrosis of the talus has frequently been reported following trauma because talus has no muscle insertions, sixty percent of the surface of the talus is covered by hyaline cartilage, takes only a small area for entrance of a blood supply. Osteonecrosis is also associated with a variety of nontraumatic disorders. There are many indications for steroid usage, patient with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and status- post renal or cardiac transplantation may be on long- term steroid usage, osteonecrosis may develop. A vascular necrosis of the talus secondary to chronic steroid usage is an unusual case. Delay in detection of osteonecrosis may lead to fragmentation and collapse of the talar body. When pain on range of motion is present and conservative treatment have been exhausted, surgical treatment is indicated, that is, fusion of the ankle joint. However it is important that conservative treatment may prevent its various sequelae with early diagnosis because steroid - treated patients have a more operative risk and increased risk for postoperative infection. We report a rare case of corticosteroid induced avascular necrosis of talus after cardiac transplantation.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.247-250
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• 2011

Talar fracture and total dislocation, each known as one of rare injuries mainly caused by high-energy trauma, tend to cause avascular necrosis, post-traumatic arthritis, non-union, skin necrosis and infection because of weak blood supply. The authors have experienced and reports a total talus dislocation of 16 year old male associated with medial malleoalr fracture, who showed relatively good result by early reduction and operation.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.161-164
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to define the geographic patterns of partial avascular necrosis (AVN) of the talar body and to determine whether there were any predictors of both the location and occurrence of partial AVN. Materials and Methods: Nineteen patients with fracture of the talar neck treated by open reduction and internal fixation and followed up for more than 1 year were analyzed. The radiographs were examined 6 to 8 weeks after the operation for Hawkins sign and if it was not observed, magnetic resonance scans were performed. The three-dimensional analysis was performed using Mimics 17.0 (Materialise). The incidence of collapse and time to operative intervention was recorded. Results: Partial AVN of the talar body was observed in six out of 19 patients. The avascular segment of the talar body was located predominantly in the anterolateral portion. The average volume of the avascular segment was $289mm^3$, and it occupied 1% of total volume of the talus, and 10% of the talar dome. Collapse occurred in one patient in the area of the avascular process. There were no observable trends with regard to Hawkins classification, incidence of collapse, or time to operative intervention to the location of the avascular segment. Conclusion: Partial AVN can occur after fracture of the talar neck. The predominant location of the avascular segment was the anterolateral portion of the talar body. This information may be helpful to understanding the process of avascular necrosis of the talar body.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.119-125
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study fracture. Materials and Methods: The clinical and radiological analysis were performed on 19 cases of the talus neck fractures who had been treated with conservative treatment or variable methods of operative treatment. Each cases followed up more than 1 year and 6 months from May 1989 to June 2001. The clinical results were analyzed according to the age, cause of injury, fracture type of Hawkins classification, associated soft tissue injury, method of treatments, complications, and Hawkins scoring system. Results: According to Hawkins classification, type I was 6 cases(32%), type II was 5 cases(26%), typeIII was 7 cases(37%), and typeIV was 1 case(5%). In all cases, complete bony union was obtained. According to the Hawkins scoring system, 8 cases(42%) were excellent and good. Avascular necrosis was 4 cases(25%). Traumatic arthritis was 10 cases which were occurred in type II, III and IV. An ankle fusion was 1 case. Conclusion: In talar neck fractures, non-displaced fracture treated by the cast immobilization and displaced fracture treated by early open reduction and internal fixation were expected good results. The complications were 77% of traumatic arthritis and 31% of avascular necrosis in type II, III and IV. We should preoperatively explain to the patient for high complication rates of traumatic osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis in the talus neck fractures.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.102-106
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• 2011

Recently, development and improvement in joint replacement therapy, the need for arthrodesis has been decreasing. However, result of joint replacement is not always satisfactory, and most cases are rather indicative to ankle arthrodesis than ankle replacement. Often, ankle arthrodesis can be more beneficial salvage method to treat cases with failure in joint replacement therapy, talar avascular necrosis with massive bone defect, talus fracture with severe comminution and bone defect and ankle dislocation. In cases with large bone defect that need to be treated with ankle arthrodesis using internal fixation, it is difficult to fill the defect with conventional auto-iliac bone or all-bone graft. Thus, we make a report on our experience in treating 2 cases with ankle arthrodesis using auto-fibular bone graft and plate fixation.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.40-48
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• 1999

The neck of the talus is its most vulnerable and fragile segment, because of narrow diameter, devoid of hyaline padding and honeycombed internally by vascular channels etc. Talar neck fractures comprise 50% of all major to the talus. The majority occurs as a result of high-energy injuries, such as motor vehicle accidents or fall from a height. Anatomically, talar surface is covered mainly with articular cartilage and blood supply to the talus is very poor. So, complications, such as non-union, avascular necrosis and post traumatic arthritis, are frequent. The authors reviewed fourteen cases of talar neck fractures treated in our clinics from Jan. 1992 to Mar. 1997, and average follow-up period was over 15 months. The results obtained were as follows; 1. Patients' average age was 31.2 years. 2. The most common cause was traffic accident(9/14, 64%), and hyperdorsiflexion injury of the ankle was common mechanism of the fractures. 3. According to the modified Hawkins classification, type I was four cases, type II was nine cases, type III was one case and type IV was no case. 4. Hawkins sign of subcortical radiolucency was found in 64% (9/14) of the fractures. 5. Avascular necrosis was occurred in 21% (3/14) of the fractures(in two cases of type II fractures, and in one of type III). 6. According to the Hawkins criteria, four cases in type I, five in type II were an excellent result. Two cases, one in type II and one in type III were good result, and two in type II were fair. One in type II was poor result.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2018

Ankle arthrodesis is a common and standard treatment for patients with end-stage ankle arthritis. The surgical goals of ankle arthrodesis are to obtain bony union between the tibia and talus with adequate alignment, and provide a pain-free plantigrade foot for weightbearing activities. To achieve successful fusion, the surgeon should closely examine the patient's factors before surgery, particularly the following: adjacent arthritis and deformity, infection, avascular necrosis of talus, Charcot arthropathy, and rheumatoid arthritis. Recently, ankle arthroplasty has been reported to provide satisfactory clinical results. On the other hand, long-term follow-up results are still lacking, and considering the various complications of arthroplasty, ankle arthrodesis is still the primary surgical treatment for advanced arthritis of the ankle joint.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.156-161
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• 2009

Purpose: The fracture of talus has critical complications and results in various clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate clinical outcome and influence on involvement of ankle and subtalar joint. Materials and Methods: From December 1999 to December 2008, a total of 66 fractures and dislocations of talus was treated with minimal 9 months follow up period. Ankle-hindfoot scale of the American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) was used to evaluate the clinical outcome. The complications and sequential radiologic findings were also analyzed. Results: There were 28 neck fractures, 11 lateral process fractures, 10 body fractures, 7 osteochondral fractures, 4 posteromedial tubercle fractures and 4 medial process fractures. In 38 cases, there were concomitant injuries. Ipsilateral ankle fracture, which found in 19 cases, was most common. The surgical treatment was performed in 36 cases. Mean AOFAS score was 85.5 (range, 72 to 96). In 13 of 47 cases, one or more fracture lines involving weight bearing surface were confirmed. The involvement of ankle or subtalar joint had resulted in unsatisfied outcome. Complications were developed as follows, post-traumatic arthritis in 8 cases, avascular necrosis in 3 cases, and deep infection in 2 cases. Conclusion: The involvement of ankle or subtalar joint in fractures of talus seemed to be common and to impact the clinical outcome. Meticulous consideration about that will be positively necessary.