Post-traumatic avascular necrosis of the talus

In this comprehensive case report, we examine a 29-year-old male who suffered a high-energy vehicular accident, resulting in a type III Hawkins fracture of the talus. This specific fracture type is critically associated with a greater than 90% risk of progressing to avascular necrosis (AVN) of the t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Romanian journal of morphology and embryology Vol. 65; no. 2; pp. 349 - 352
Main Authors:	Deme, Paul Alexandru, Fruja, Dan Ioan, Hreniuc, Nicolae Cătălin, Damian, Graţian Cosmin, Marcu, Florin Mihai, Fazakas, Roland, Boru, Casiana, Zurbău-Anghel, Nicoleta, Pop, Alexandru Mircea
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Romania Academy of Medical Sciences, Romanian Academy Publishing House, Bucharest 01-04-2024
Subjects:	Adult Case Report Humans Male Osteonecrosis - diagnostic imaging Osteonecrosis - etiology Osteonecrosis - pathology Talus - injuries Talus - pathology Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Summary:	In this comprehensive case report, we examine a 29-year-old male who suffered a high-energy vehicular accident, resulting in a type III Hawkins fracture of the talus. This specific fracture type is critically associated with a greater than 90% risk of progressing to avascular necrosis (AVN) of the talus, a severe and debilitating condition. Alongside this, the patient sustained fractures of the medial and lateral malleolus. Due to extensive swelling and severe circulatory disorders, an immediate emergency surgical procedure was necessitated, employing nail fixation as a stabilizing intervention. Over the course of 12 months following the surgery, despite routine post-operative imaging including X-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans, the patient continued to experience significant pain and impairment. This condition led to further investigations, culminating in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that revealed an area of 19.8∕20.9 mm of AVN on the talus dome's upper-lateral facet. Interestingly, earlier CT scans had indicated multiple osteitic lesions, but these findings lacked a clear clinical correspondence, presenting a diagnostic challenge. To resolve this ambiguity and to definitively distinguish between necrosis and infection, a targeted histopathological analysis was deemed necessary. This analysis was conducted on a bone fragment extracted during a follow-up surgical procedure for nail removal. The results from this analysis present an area of bone and myeloid tissue necrosis unequivocally confirming the presence of AVN, effectively ruling out osteitis as a potential diagnosis. This critical diagnostic clarification allowed for a shift in therapeutic strategy, enabling the initiation of a more focused and potentially curative treatment regimen.
ISSN:	1220-0522 2066-8279
DOI:	10.47162/RJME.65.2.23