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Background There is a long-lasting discussion on whether the anatomical shape of the talus is a predisposing factor in the development of chronic ankle instability (CAI). The progression from two- to three-dimensional imaging techniques allows for a new investigation on this topic. Methods MRI studies of 25 young and healthy adults with CAI and 25 controls without CAI were conducted in neutral-null position and in plantarflexion-supination. The talar angle and the talar radius were transposed to a three-dimensional approach and compared between the groups and the positions. Results There was no significant difference in the talar angle nor the talar radius between the groups. Plantarflexion-Supination did not lead to a significant change in tibiotalar configuration associated with the two parameters. Conclusion Three-dimensional talar shape is not significantly different between patients suffering from CAI and healthy controls. This supports the interpretation that the dynamic congruency of the joint, which is influenced by ligamentous integrity remains the main anatomical component in mechanical ankle instability. Trial registration The study protocol was prospectively registered at the German Clinical Trials Register (#DRKS00016356) on 05/11/2019.

Background Juxta-articular giant cell tumors in the talus are very rare and pose a special problem for reconstruction after aggressive tumor curettage. Currently, vascularized iliac bone graft (VIBG) has proven to improve the outcome of partial talus defect, however, technical difficulty occurs when both the three-dimensional fitting for a large cavity and structural support to the articular surface in the talus are needed. Prior publications have demonstrated that the three-dimensional printing technology can improve surgical efficiency on the vascularized bone graft for extremity and mandibular reconstructions in complex clinical scenarios. Case presentation We report the case of a Campanacci grade III giant cell tumor of the right talus, involving the subchondral bone close to four articular surfaces and extending into the medial soft tissue. The tumor was successfully managed with a downgrading strategy that combined microwave ablation and curettage, followed by reconstruction via a VIBG guided by a three-dimensional printed model. Computed tomography scans confirmed bone union at two months postoperatively. Two years after surgery, collapse of the articular surface or evidence of recurrence or osteonecrosis was not observed. The patient achieved a normal gait with 15 degrees of ankle dorsiflexion and 45 degrees of plantar flexion under weightbearing conditions. Conclusion The reconstruction of the large residual cavity in the talus with a VIBG after microwave ablation and aggressive tumor removal of giant cell tumor under the guidance of a three-dimensional printed model enabled the preservation of the ankle function.

Sex determination is a pivotal step in forensic and bioarchaeological fields. Generally, scholars focus on metric or qualitative morphological features, but in the last few years several contributions have applied geometric-morphometric (GM) techniques to overcome limitations of traditional approaches. In this study, we explore sexual dimorphism in modern human tali from three early 20th century populations (Sassari and Bologna, Italy; New York, USA) at intra- and interspecific population levels using geometric morphometric (GM) methods. Statistical analyses were performed using shape, form, and size variables. Our results do not show significant differences in shape between males and females, either considering the pooled sample or the individual populations. Differences in talar morphology due to sexual dimorphism are mainly related to allometry, i.e. size-related changes of morphological traits. Discriminant function analysis using form space Principal Components and centroid size correctly classify between 87.7% and 97.2% of the individuals. The result is similar using the pooled sample or the individual population, except for a diminished outcome for the New York group (from 73.9% to 78.2%). Finally, a talus from the Bologna sample (not included in the previous analysis) with known sex was selected to run a virtual resection, followed by two digital reconstructions based on the mean shape of both the pooled sample and the Bologna sample, respectively. The reconstructed talus was correctly classified with a Ppost between 99.9% and 100%, demonstrating that GM is a valuable tool to cope with fragmentary tali, which is a common occurrence in forensic and bioarchaeological contexts.

Talar fractures often require osteotomy during surgery to achieve reduction and screw fixation of the fractured fragments due to limited visualization and operating space of the talar articular surface. The objective of this study was to evaluate the horizontal approach to the medial malleolus facet by maximizing exposure through dorsiflexion and plantarflexion positions. In dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, and functional foot positions, we respectively obtained the anterior and posterior edge lines of the projection of the medial malleolus on the medial malleolar facet. The talar model from Mimics was imported into Geomagic software for image refinement. Then Solidworks software was used to segment the medial surface of the talus and extend the edge lines from the three positions to project them onto the \"semicircular\" base for 2D projection. The exposed area in different positions, the percentage of total area it represents, and the anatomic location of the insertion point at the groove between the anteroposternal protrusions of the medial malleolus were calculated. The mean total area of the \"semicircular\" region on the medial malleolus surface of the talus was 542.10 ± 80.05 mm2. In the functional position, the exposed mean area of the medial malleolar facet around the medial malleolus both anteriorly and posteriorly was 141.22 ± 24.34 mm2, 167.58 ± 22.36mm2, respectively. In dorsiflexion, the mean area of the posterior aspect of the medial malleolar facet was 366.28 ± 48.12 mm2. In plantarflexion, the mean of the anterior aspect of the medial malleolar facet was 222.70 ± 35.32 mm2. The mean overlap area of unexposed area in both dorsiflexion and plantarflexion was 23.32 ± 5.94 mm2. The mean percentage of the increased exposure area in dorsiflexion and plantarflexion were 36.71 ± 3.25% and 15.13 ± 2.83%. The mean distance from the insertion point to the top of the talar dome was 10.69 ± 1.24 mm, to the medial malleolus facet border of the talar trochlea was 5.61 ± 0.96 mm, and to the tuberosity of the posterior tibiotalar portion of the deltoid ligament complex was 4.53 ± 0.64 mm. Within the 3D model, we measured the exposed area of the medial malleolus facet in different positions and the anatomic location of the insertion point at the medial malleolus groove. When the foot is in plantarflexion or dorsiflexion, a sufficiently large area and operating space can be exposed during surgery. The data regarding the exposed visualization area and virtual screws need to be combined with clinical experience for safer reduction and fixation of fracture fragments. Further validation of its intraoperative feasibility will require additional clinical research.

Background: Os trigonum syndrome represents a cause of posterior ankle pain that is predominantly seen in athletes. The os trigonum ossicle forms from a secondary ossification center of the talus and is located at its posterior aspect in an interval between the posterior lip of the tibial plafond and calcaneus. The os trigonum ossicle is often an incidental finding and asymptomatic. However, repetitive plantarflexion and push-off maneuvers can cause symptoms and lead a patient to pursue orthopedic care. Materials and Methods: A review of the literature was conducted using the PubMed search engine with the following keywords: “os trigonum”, “os trigonum ossicle”, “os trigonum syndrome”, “posterior ankle impingement”, and “Stieda process”. Results: The pertinent anatomy, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment of os trigonum syndrome were reviewed in the literature and are extensively discussed in this article. Conclusion: Os trigonum syndrome represents a potential cause of posterior ankle pain that needs thorough evaluation regarding history, physical examination, and imaging. Once diagnosed, treatment ranges from conservative to surgical interventions depending on surgeon preference and specific case presentation. [Orthopedics. 202x;4x(x):xx–xx.]

Background Autologous Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis (AMIC) is addressed to osteochondral defects of the talus. However, evidence concerning the midterm efficacy and safety of AMIC are limited. This study assessed reliability and feasibility of AMIC at 60 months follow-up. We hypothesize that AMIC leads to good clinical outcome at midterm follow-up. Methods Surgeries were approached with an arthrotomy via malleolar osteotomy. A resorbable porcine I/III collagen membrane (Chondro-Gide®, Geistlich Pharma AG, Wolhusen, Switzerland) was used. Patients were followed at 24 and 60 months. The primary outcome of interest was to analyse the Foot Function Index (FFI), and the subscale hindfoot of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS). Complications such as failure, revision surgeries, graft delamination, and hypertrophy were also recorded. The secondary outcome of interest was to investigate the association between the clinical outcome and patient characteristics at admission. Results Data from 19 patients were included. The mean age at admission was 47.3 ± 13.2 years, and the mean BMI 24.1 ± 4.9 kg/m 2 . 53% (10 of 19 patients) were female. At a mean of 66.2 ± 11.6 months, the FFI decreased at 24-months follow-up of 22.5% ( P  = 0.003) and of further 1.3% ( P  = 0.8) at 60-months follow-up. AOFAS increased at 24-months follow-up of 17.2% ( P  = 0.003) and of further 3.4 ( P  = 0.2) at 60-months follow-up. There were two symptomatic recurrences within the follow-up in two patients. There was evidence of a strong positive association between FFI and AOFAS at baseline and the same scores last follow-up ( P  = 0.001 and P  = 0.0002, respectively). Conclusion AMIC enhanced with cancellous bone graft demonstrated efficacy and feasibility for osteochondral defects of the talus at five years follow-up. The greatest improvement was evidenced within the first two years. These results suggest that clinical outcome is influenced by the preoperative status of the ankle. High quality studies involving a larger sample size are required to detect seldom complications and identify prognostic factors leading to better clinical outcome. Level of evidence II, prospective cohort study.

Background Current classifications emphasize the morphology of the coalition, however, subtalar joint facets involved should also be emphasized. Objective The objective of this study was to develop a new classification system based on the articular facets involved to cover all coalitions and guide operative planning. Methods Patients were diagnosed with talocalcaneal coalition using a CT scan, between January 2009 and February 2021. The coalition was classified into four main types according to the shape and nature of the coalition: I, inferiorly overgrown talus or superiorly overgrown calcaneus; II, both talus and calcaneus overgrew; III, coalition with an accessory ossicle; IV, complete osseous coalition (I-III types are non-osseous coalition). Then each type was further divided into three subtypes according to the articular facets involved. A, the coalition involving the anterior facets; M, the coalition involving the middle facets, and P, the coalition involving the posterior facets. Interobserver reliability was measured at the main type (based on nature and shape) and subtype (articular facet involved) using weighted Kappa. Results There were 106 patients (108 ft) included in this study. Overall, 8 ft (7.5%) were classified as type I, 75 ft (69.4%) as type II, 7 ft (6.5%) as type III, and 18 ft (16.7%) as type IV. Twenty-nine coalitions (26.9%) involved the posterior facets only (subtype-P), 74 coalitions (68.5%) involved both the middle and posterior facets (subtype-MP), and five coalitions (4.6%) simultaneously involved the anterior, middle, and posterior facets (subtype-AMP). Type II-MP coalition was the most common. The value of weighted Kappa for the main type was 0.93 (95%CI 0.86–0.99) ( p <0.001), and the value for the subtype was 0.78 (95%CI 0.66–0.91) ( p <0.001). Conclusion A new classification system of the talocalcaneal coalition to facilitate operative planning was developed.

Background This study systematically compares the efficacy of different adjunctive therapies in enhancing microfracture (MF) treatment for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) through a network meta-analysis, aiming to identify the optimal adjunctive therapy for microfracture. Methods A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus databases was conducted for relevant literature until October 1, 2024. Two researchers independently screened, extracted data, and assessed quality. The review process was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results A total of six randomized controlled trials were included, comprising 295 OLT patients and involving four adjunctive therapies: MF combined with platelet-rich plasma (MF_PRP), hyaluronic acid (MF_HA), collagen scaffold (MF_CS), and pulsed electromagnetic fields (MF_PEMF). The results of the network meta-analysis indicated that while HA is the most commonly used adjunctive therapy, PRP-assisted MF demonstrated the best improvement in AOFAS and VAS scores for OLT. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) predictions also revealed that PRP has the greatest potential among the four adjunctive therapies, followed by HA. Conversely, MF_PEMF showed the least effectiveness in improving AOFAS and VAS scores. Additionally, only one study reported complications associated with MF_PEMF and MF, with no statistically significant differences between the two. Conclusion Among the MF adjunctive therapies validated by RCTs, HA is the most widely used; however, PRP-assisted MF provides the best outcomes for OLT patients, suggesting that its application should be emphasized in clinical practice. PROSPERO Registration No: CRD42024546984. Clinical trial details Not applicable.

Background To achieve successful osteosynthesis during arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis, increased stability and compression pressure during fixation are needed. Screw threads must be anchored within the talus, however, the bone mineral density of the talus has not been reported. This study used computed tomographic values to determine whether bone mineral density of the talus is lower in patients with ankle osteoarthritis than in healthy individuals and to determine the part of the talar cancellous bone with the highest bone mineral density. Methods We studied the talus in 10 feet with and 10 without end-stage ankle osteoarthritis. Each talar cancellous bone was divided into the lateral process, head and neck, middle body, and medial body. Computed tomographic values of each segment were measured to calculate the relative bone mineral density difference between regions. Results Mean (± standard deviations) computed tomographic values in the healthy talus group were 638.329 ± 139.765, 465.960 ± 74.254, 537.109 ± 82.443, and 469.016 ± 84.490 for the four segments. Mean computed tomographic values in the end-stage ankle osteoarthritis talus group were 360.994 ± 117.403, 284.397 ± 101.142, 327.814 ± 114.772, and 297.524 ± 105.667 for the same segments. The bone mineral density of the lateral process of the talus was significantly higher in both the healthy and osteoarthritis talus groups, and the bone mineral density of the talus in the osteoarthritis talus group was significantly lower than that in the healthy talus group. Conclusions The bone mineral density of the talus in end-stage ankle osteoarthritis was significantly lower than that of a healthy talus. The highest relative bone mineral density was inferred to be from the middle body to the lateral process.

Background Skeletally immature osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) have a significant impact on the health status and quality of life of pediatric patients and the involved family. the current literature showed success in 4 out of 10 patients but it is currently unknown which type of non-operative management showed better clinical- and radiological outcomes. The aim of this study is to compare immobilization and supervised rehabilitation with a ‘skillful’’ neglect in the treatment for skeletally immature patients with an OLT. The hypothesis is that a period of immobilization and supervised rehabilitation will lead to better clinical and radiological outcomes compared to ‘’skillful’’ neglect. Methods Multicenter, prospective, comparative study. Skeletally immature children with an OLT will be assigned to the intervention or control group after a shared decision-making process. Patients in the intervention group will undergo a 4-week period of immobilization with normal casting and non-weightbearing, which is followed by 4 weeks of immobilization with a removable cast and weight bearing boot. Afterwards, they will receive a protocolled period of rehabilitation under supervision of a physical therapist. The control group will have a ‘skillful’’ neglect treatment. The main study outcome is the difference between the two groups on the Oxford Ankle and Foot Questionnaire for Children (OxAFQ-C). Secondary study outcomes are radiologic changes in terms of morphology and lesion size. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) during weight bearing and quality of life measured with a Pediatrics Quality of Life (Peds-QL) and EuroQol-5 Dimension youth (EQ-5D-y). Discussion This protocol reports on the study design of the CARE Study and it aims to setup a study for evaluating different types of non-operative management in pediatric patients suffering an OLT. This study will compare clinical and radiological outcomes between two different non-operative strategies for treating OLTs in the skeletally immature population. Based on the results of this study, an evidence-based treatment protocol for non-operative management for pediatric OLTs can be provided. Trial registration This study is registered in the International Clinical Trial Registry Platform (ICTRP) with trial number NLOMON54282, date of registration 05192023.