Talus stress fracture

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The talus bone is located at the upper part of the ankle where the shin bone rests on. Stress fracture of the talus oftentimes develop among those who play track and field as well as football.

The talus bone is also responsible for supporting the tibia and fibula bones. It is important to note that the bone is prone to develop a stress fracture if the ankle is overpronated repeatedly and plantar flexed.

Indications of a talus stress fracture

The signs and symptoms of a talus stress fracture include the following:

Talus stress fracture
Pain on the exterior of the ankle that occurs gradually.
  • Pain on the exterior of the ankle that occurs gradually
  • The pain is aggravated with activity especially running and settles while resting
  • Tenderness and possible puffiness over the sinus tarsi which is a small-sized canal where the nerves move into the ankle

A CT scan and bone scan of the affected area can confirm a diagnosis of a stress fracture. An X-ray is not likely to reveal the injury until the healing has started.

Management

The treatment for a talus stress fracture involves 6 weeks of immobilization with a plaster cast. In some cases, surgery that involves the removal of the lateral process of the talus bone might be considered to speed up the healing and rehabilitation process.

Correcting any biomechanical issues such as overpronation is usually done using orthotic inserts if needed.

Remember that determining the possible causes of a stress fracture in the first place is vital. The usual factors include poor technique, training errors or doing too much too soon.

A rehabilitation program is important to strengthen the ankle. If the ankle was immobilized using a cast, mobility exercise is vital. Additionally, restoring coordination or proprioception of the ankle using balance or wobble board exercise must be performed on a regular basis.

Disclaimer / More Information

The information posted on this page on a talus stress fracture is for learning and educational purposes only. To learn to manage fractures, register for first aid training at one of our training centers located throughout Canada. The training centers are in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Kelowna, Surrey, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax.

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