Abstract
Background: Trauma to the foot and ankle from inversion injury accounts for a considerable
number of Emergency Department (ED) visits. Acute subtalar dislocations are rare injuries
most commonly caused by high-velocity mechanisms that can produce long-term complications
if not reduced promptly. The subtleties of the dislocation on plain films can be easily
overlooked in a fast-paced environment like the ED, especially if the patient presents
with an atypical mechanism. Objectives: The epidemiology, pathophysiology, plain X-ray
findings, management, and prognosis of medial subtalar dislocations will be reviewed.
Case Report: We present a case of medial subtalar dislocation secondary to a low-velocity
mechanism in an otherwise healthy 37-year-old woman. Conclusions: Although medial
subtalar dislocations are an uncommon injury, they usually can be reduced easily in
the ED, achieving a good long-term prognosis with appropriate follow-up. The findings
on plain film X-rays can be subtle at times, and the dislocation may not always present
with a classic history of high-velocity trauma.
Keywords
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References
- Medial subtalar dislocation: importance of clinical diagnosis in distinguishing from other dislocations.Eur J Emerg Med. 2003; 10: 232-235
- Injury characteristics and the clinical outcome of subtalar dislocations: a clinical and radiographic analysis of 25 cases.Foot Ankle Int. 2003; 24: 158-163
- Conservative treatment of subtalar dislocations.Int Orthop. 2002; 26: 56-60
- Imaging rounds #106. Medial subtalar dislocation.Orthop Rev. 1991; 20 (468, 470–2): 466
Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 08, 2008
Accepted:
April 30,
2008
Received in revised form:
April 9,
2008
Received:
November 20,
2007
Identification
Copyright
Published by Elsevier Inc.
