Fractures of the talus result from high-energy trauma often associated with incidents such as automobile accidents and falls from significant heights ^[1]. The etiology of the injury involves the application of compressive stresses on the talus, which are transferred from the tibia due to the weight force exerted on it, as well as from the ground. Although talus fractures are the second-most prevalent fractures affecting the tarsal bones, the incidence of bilateral talus fracture-dislocation is rare ^[2]. It accounts for a mere 0.06% of dislocations and 2% of talus injuries ^[1]. Hawkins described fractures occurring in the neck of the talus with their associated joint dislocations ^[3]. These complex injuries pose unique challenges due to the risk of complications, including avascular necrosis and post-traumatic arthritis [2, 4]. Despite the use of suitable interventions and anatomical fixation, these injuries have a poor prognosis ^[2]. Management demands timely intervention, meticulous surgical planning, and a choice between surgical approaches. This case study explores the comparative outcomes of two surgical techniques in optimizing orthopedic results.

In this case study, a 30-year-old man had an injury to both ankles as a result of a fall from a five-storey height while engaged in his occupational duties as a painter. The individual fell on the floor with both feet in a dorsiflexed position – the potential mechanism of injury resulting from dorsiflexion, and supination. On admission, the patient remained awake and had stable hemodynamics, 4 h after the occurrence of the traumatic event, the Glasgow Coma Scale scoring was 15. The patient had pronounced bilateral ankle edema without any blisters. The extremities were warm, and there was no indication of any neurovascular impairment. Ankle radiographs revealed a closed talar neck fracture of the left ankle consistent with Hawkin type I classification. On the right side, there is a closed talus fracture of the Hawkin type II, accompanied by a fracture of the medial malleolus (Fig. 1). The patient received pre-operative management consisting of strict limb elevation using a below-knee splint, application of cold fomentation, and initiation of trypsin therapy from admission until the presence of skin wrinkling. The patient had trauma to the operation timing of 8 days. For the right side, he underwent a surgical procedure including open reduction and internal fixation, using a cannulated cancellous (CC) screw for the talus and tension band wire (TBW) for the medial. Percutaneous CC screw was used after closed reduction on the left side. The surgical procedure was conducted with combined spinal-epidural anesthesia while employing tourniquet coverage. The surgical procedure included performing bilateral fixation in a single setting, with an operating duration of 150 min.
In the case of a right talus fracture, a combined medial and anterolateral approach was employed. A 7–8 cm incision was made over the medial malleolus to access the fracture site. Following the reduction of the fracture, a 40 mm × 4 mm CC screw was inserted using a guide wire. In addition, an incision was made on the anterolateral aspect of the ankle joint, through which another guide wire was inserted and a 40 mm × 4 mm CC screw was inserted. During the surgery, a bone defect was identified and subsequently corrected using allograft material. The medial malleolus was successfully reduced under direct visualization, followed by the insertion of a Kirschner wire (K-wire) and TBW to complete the procedure. On the other side, percutaneous CC screw fixation followed closed reduction. A stab incision was made at the posterolateral aspect of the ankle and two guide wires were inserted diagonally in an anteromedial direction to intersect the fracture site, with the use of fluoroscopy guidance. Two screws measuring 45 mm × 4 mm were utilized for fixation. The confirmation of reduction was done by the use of fluoroscopy. Associated metatarsal fractures were managed conservatively. The estimated blood loss during the procedure was 200 mL. Wound closure was achieved with Albert Lembert sutures. Antibiotics were continued up to a 48-h post-operative period. Fig. 2 shows the immediate post-operative radiographs of both sides showing adequate fracture reduction with satisfactory position of implants. The patient was discharged after the check dress of the wound was done on the 3rd post-operative day with below knee slab for 1 week. He was started with standard ankle rehabilitation protocol, with a range of motion exercises. The patient was fully non-weight bearing for 3 months, and protected weight bearing was started from 3 months onwards with the help of a walker and toe touch. Postoperatively, the patient started full weight bearing without support from the 5th month. The patient was followed up regularly with no complications of the wound (wound dehiscence, infection, etc.). A 3-year post-operative X-ray showed union at both talus and medial malleolus with very minimal avascular necrosis changes and no subtalar or tibiotalar joint arthritis (Fig. 3). Three-year follow-up showed both ankle range of motion with 30° plantar flexion, and 15° dorsiflexion with mild intermittent pain and stiffness (Fig. 4). The patient’s quality of life was good with no significant disability with foot and ankle disability index activities score: 99/104 (95%).

Bilateral talar fracture-dislocations with medial malleolus fractures are uncommon in the medical literature. The low number of published cases exemplifies the complex nature of this injury pattern, also emphasizing its rarity. As demonstrated in the provided example, the mechanism of damage frequently involves a fall from a substantial height, resulting in high-energy trauma [1, 5]. A precise surgical technique is required to treat such a complicated injury. To provide stability and restore anatomical alignment, open reduction and internal fixation with CC screws for the right talus fracture and K wires with TBW for the medial malleolus were used in our case ^[6]. The left talus fracture was managed by percutaneous CC screw fixation as the ankle mortise was not disturbed. This case study specifically compares the results of open reduction with internal fixation and percutaneous fixation after closed reduction. The need for meticulous soft-tissue management cannot be emphasized since maintaining the integrity of surrounding soft tissues is critical in limiting problems, as well-documented ^[2]. Talar fracture consequences include avascular necrosis and post-traumatic arthritis. Despite the complexities of this injury, the careful surgical intervention undertaken in this patient is intended to reduce the likelihood of complications ^[7]. We discover a positive result when we compare the patient’s post-operative results to the current literature. The patient had a good range of motion and reported no pain, which is consistent with other cases in the literature [1, 2, 4, 7] (Table 1). Talus fractures have a significant long-term effect on ankle function as well as physical activity. The success of surgical therapy is determined by the presence of post-operative osteoarthritis/AVN, the kind of fracture, and the degree of fracture reduction. Because only the latter is adjustable, efforts should be taken to enhance the result by restoring articular congruence ^[8]. Even in undisplaced fractures (Hawkins type I), talar fracture osteosynthesis is needed ^[9]. A well-planned delayed therapy with open reduction and stable osteosynthesis offers better long-term results than a hasty acute procedure performed by an inexperienced or insufficiently trained operating team ^[10]. In summary, this unique case underscores the need to use meticulous and carefully planned surgical techniques, as well as provide comprehensive post-operative care and ongoing follow-up, to achieve optimal outcomes for individuals with bilateral talar fracture-dislocations with accompanying medial malleolus fractures. While both approaches yielded comparable and promising outcomes in this case, the choice between them should consider factors such as surgical expertise, patient-specific factors, and the specific fracture type. Precise anatomical reduction and stable osteosynthesis are essential in mitigating complications, particularly avascular necrosis and post-traumatic arthritis.

This case highlights the need for meticulous surgical planning, careful soft-tissue management, and the choice of surgical approach in achieving optimal outcomes in the management of bilateral talus fracture dislocations. The comparable outcomes of two surgical techniques (open reduction internal fixation vs. closed reduction percutaneous fixation) reaffirm the significance of surgical expertise and thoughtful planning in addressing these rare and challenging orthopedic cases.

In rare bilateral talar fracture dislocations, carefully planned delayed therapy with open reduction and stable osteosynthesis may offer superior outcomes compared to hasty acute procedures. Surgical teams should prioritize surgical expertise and comprehensive planning in managing such complex cases.