Epidemiological profile of talus fractures attended in a tertiary referral hospital for trauma

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of patients with talus fracture assisted at a tertiary referral hospital for trauma. Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records of patients treated at an emergency department for orthopedic trauma and diagnosed with talus fracture from January 2014 to June 2015. All the medical records were analyzed and the following parameters were verified: patient’s profile, risk factors, fracture characteristics, mechanism of injury, relationship of trauma to work, means of arrival at the emergency department, treatment data and hospital stay. Results: Men were more affected than women, at a ratio of 4.8:1. The most common mechanism of injury was fall from a height. The most frequent type of fracture was fracture of the talar processes, followed by fracture of the talar body. Of the 35 cases, 11 were open fractures at the time of presentation; 74.2% had other associated fractures. The average time between the trauma and the definitive surgery was 3.22 days, and the mean hospital stay for patients with surgically treated fractures was 13.7 days. Conclusion: Fracture of the talus was more common in the region of the talar processes and occurred more frequently in young male patients who sustained high-energy trauma.