Ankle bone

anatomy

The talus is one of the seven tarsal bones.

The ankle bone is one of the seven tarsal bones involved in both the upper and lower ankle:

• In the upper ankle joint, the ankle roll (trochlea tali) is enclosed by the malleolar fork (consisting of the ends of the tibia and fibula). This means that you can only raise and lower your foot by approx. 20-30 °.

• In the lower ankle, the complex interplay of many tarsal bones (including the ankle bone is involved) enables the foot to rotate in and out by 30-50 °.

I - Upper ankle
(Joint line green) -
Articulatio talocruralis

1. Shin -
   Tibia
2. Fibula -
   Fibula
3. Ankle bone -
   Talus
4. Heel bone -
   Calcaneus
5. Achilles tendon -
   Tendo calcaneus
6. Fibula-calcaneus tape -
   Calcaneofibular ligament
7. Hint. Shin-fibula
   Ligament (rear syndesmosis ligament)
   Posterior tibiofibular ligament
8. Front Fibula ankle ligament -
   Ligamentum fibulotalare anterius
9. Delta band -
   Deltoid ligament

You can find an overview of all Dr-Gumpert images at: medical illustrations

Ankle disorders

1. Talus dislocation (displacement of the articular surfaces of the ankle):

Here, strong violence (e.g. falling from a great height) shifts the joint surface, in which the ankle bone is involved. This can be done in the upper, as well as in lower ankle happen. The patient himself notices swelling and restricted mobility. The shape of the ankle also looks different.

After using a X-ray of the foot bony breaks are excluded, the joint must be in a Short anesthesia be adjusted (repositioned). It is also recommended to relieve the ankle for 4-6 months.

2. Talus fracture (broken bone of the talus):

Strong forces that compress the foot or severe dislocations can also cause bony injuries to the talus.

If there is a fracture of the ankle bone, the patient will particularly notice swelling and hematoma formation over the ankle.

Depending on the severity of the break, this fracture can be treated with or without surgery. Only if the position of the joint is still correct and no joint surface is directly involved can one aim for healing without surgical treatment by immobilizing it with plaster of paris for 3 months. If this is not the case, an operation should be performed in which the debris is reconnected with screws. Even after that, the ankle should not be loaded for another 6 weeks.

Complications that often occur with fractures of the ankle bone:

• arthrosis in the adjacent joints due to small steps in the joints that could not be completely corrected surgically.

• In addition, the blood supply to the talus is relatively poor, so that cells die (necrosis) in this tarsal bone. In this case, the talus must be completely removed.

Os trigonum

In some people, there is also a small bone at the rear end of the talus, the so-called os trigonum. This accessory bone is usually round to oval and rests on the rear edge of the talus. This occurs in 3-15% of the population and mostly goes undetected.

If there is heavy use, especially Athletes can experience pain in the area of ​​the os trigonum, which is known as the os trigonum syndrome.

However, this can usually be done by temporarily taking anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen, Cortisone) and physical therapy to be improved. If there is still no improvement, the os trigonum can be surgically removed.