Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

Symptoms | Treatments

What is

Symptoms

Treatment

What is - Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

Osteochondral lesions of the talus are an area of damaged cartilage and bone over the talus (lower portion of the ankle joint). It is commonly due to chronic loading of a part of the ankle joint as result of instability or from a single traumatic incident.

Symptoms of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

Patients may complain of pain, stiffness and swelling in the ankle that does not resolve with rest. These symptoms tend to be exacerbated by activity eg. long walks, running and jumping. Occasionally, there may be clicking or locking of the joint. An MRI scan is required to evaluate the size and depth of the cartilage injury.

Treatment for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

Non-operative care can be successful in smaller osteochondral lesions. This involves immobilizing the ankle joint in a cast or brace and subsequent physiotherapy in the form of range of motion and strengthening exercises.

In cases where the condition does not respond to non-operative care, an arthroscopic (key-hole) procedure can resolve the problem. This involves debridement (cleaning up the damaged area) and cartilage repair.

The following video illustrates how this procedure is performed.