Quantitative assessment of the subchondral vascularity of the talar dome: a cadaveric study.
BACKGROUND
The arterial supply to the talus has been extensively studied previously but never to specifically examine the subchondral region of the talar dome, a frequent site of localised pathology. This study aims to analyse and quantify the subchondral vascularity of the talar dome.


METHODS
We performed cadaveric arterial injection studies. After processing, the vascularity to the subchondral region of the talar dome was visualised and mapped using three-dimensional computer technology, then quantified and reported using a nine-section anatomical grid.


RESULTS
The areas of relative poor perfusion across the talar dome are the posterior/medial, posterior/lateral and middle/medial sections of a nine-section grid. The rest of the subchondral region shows more richly vascularised bone.


CONCLUSIONS
The vascularity of the subchondral surface of the talar dome is not uniformly distributed. This may be relevant to the aetiology and management of osteochondral lesions and shows some correlation with their more frequent locations.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK. Electronic address: 1adamlomax@gmail.com.
Adam
A
Lomax
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hairmyers Hospital, East Kilbride, UK.
Roslyn J
RJ
Miller
Laboratory of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Quentin A
QA
Fogg
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
N
N
Jane Madeley
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
C
C
Senthil Kumar
D002102:Cadaver; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D013628:Talus / Q000098:blood supply*
Blood supply; Intraosseous; Osteochondral lesions; Subchondral; Talus