Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

Description: Osteochondral lesions of the talus can present as a late complication of ankle injuries. As the talus is largely covered by articular cartilage, it has a limited ability for repair. Early and accurate diagnosis is important as talar integrity is required for optimal function of the ankle. The common presentation is chronic ankle pain with a history of ankle trauma. Conservative treatment involving a period of casting and non-weight-bearing is recommended for acute, non-displaced osteochondral lesions. Surgical management is recommended for unstable lesions or failed conservative management.
Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus Kelvin TL Chew,MBBCh, MSpMed, Eileen Tay,MBBS, Yue Shuen Wong,MBBS, FRCS (Edin), MSc (BE) Ann Acad Med Singapore 2008;37:63-8 full text