title: LONG-TERM RESULTS OF BODY AND NECK TALUS FRACTURES.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Talar neck and body fractures are unusual fractures. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of long term results.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was carried out including 11 patients that underwent surgical treatment for body or neck talus fractures between January 1997 and December 2005. Final follow-up examination included a clinical evaluation (AOFAS score) and standard radiographs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up time was 58.5 months. The prevalence of associated fractures was 60% (6/10). Overall AOFAS score averaged 72 [19-100]. Avascular necrosis and post-traumatic arthritis were present in half of the patients. Quality of surgical reduction, body fractures and absence of degenerative changes were correlated with better functional results. Neck fractures, osteonecrosis and posttraumatic arthritis led to inferior results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a great potential for long term functional impairment due to posttraumatic arthritis and chronic pain in this kind of fracture. Anatomic surgical reduction is the best chance to avoid them but it is not infallible. The avascular necrosis rate correlates with initial fracture displacement, but its occurrence in each specific case is unpredictable.
authors.affiliation: Complementary Intern, Orthopedic Clinic, Hospital de Santo Antonio, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ricardo Jorge
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Gomes de Sousa
authors.affiliation: Complementary Intern, Orthopedic Clinic, Hospital de Santo Antonio, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Marta Maria
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Teixeira de Oliveira Massada
authors.affiliation: Complementary Intern, Orthopedic Clinic, Hospital de Santo Antonio, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Manuel Alexandre Negrais Pinho
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gonçalves Pereira
authors.affiliation: Graduate Hospital Assistant, Orthopedic Clinic, Hospital de Santo Antonio, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Isabel Maria
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Gonçalves Costa
authors.affiliation: Head, Orthopedic Clinic, Hospital de Santo Antonio, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: José Fernando Souzellas
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: da Costa E Castro
keywords: Astragalus; Fractures, Bone/complications; Osteoarthritis; Osteonecrosis