The Most Common Talus Injury
One of the most common talus injury, or foot injuries is a fracture. The talus is a bone that is between the two lower bones of the leg and the heel bone. There is a joint located where the talus bone joins with the bones of the foot; this is called the subtler joint. This joint is necessary when you are walking on ground that is not even; it helps steady the foot, plus it helps to shift the body weight correctly.
If you have a talus injury that is a fracture you will experience tenderness and swelling, plus you will not be able to put any weight on that foot. You will likely have severe pain with the injury as well.
If you have a talus injury the most likely cause will be from an automobile accident, though you can also suffer injury to the talus bone if you fall from a very high place. Another common cause of talus injury is from a snowboarding accident. If someone does suffer an injury to their talus bone, they will likely also suffer from back injury at the same time.
To diagnose a talus injury your doctor will do a physical examination and gather information about how exactly you received the injury. While examining your foot, the doctor will likely check for nerve damage, plus he or she will have to make sure that the blood flow to your toes has not be cut and that your foot has normal muscle tension.
After the physical examination your doctor will probably order an X-Ray; with this the doctor can tell exactly where the talus injury is. In addition, with an X-Ray your doctor can also determine if the bone has shifted and if there is any bone fragments that need to be removed with surgery.
If you suspect that you have a talus injury you will want to remain off the foot as much as possible and apply ice for 20 minutes, about once an hour until you can get to a hospital. Although it is possible that a fracture to the talus can be treated with a cast, in most cases you will need surgery to treat the injury. If you are fortunately enough not to require surgery you will be in a cast for about 8 weeks and will not be able to put any pressure on your foot. Once the cast has been removed you will require physical therapy so that you can regain strength and movement in your foot and ankle.
Once you have had surgery you will be in a cast for about 8 weeks, though even after the cast has been removed you will likely not be able to put any pressure on the foot for another couple of weeks. While you are still in a cast you will need to be vigilant for any signs of infection, such as fever. If there are signs of infection you will want to contact your doctor right away.
If a talus injury is not treated properly you will likely have problem later; this may include arthritis, the inability to walk on your foot correctly, and chronic pain. If you have received a foot injury that you suspect may be a talus injury you will need to see your healthcare provider as soon as possible. The longer you wait after the injury to seek medical attention the more of a risk that you will require surgery to treat the injury.