Talar dome injury is much more than ankle pain. It is usually common in athletes with repetitive movements such as jumping or after a strong sprain, but it can also occur without further ado when the union between the tibial bone and the ankle bone is damaged. We tell you all the details about this rare and painful injury.
It is quite likely that we have never heard or read about the talar dome injury, but there is always a first time, and if we are here it is because our ankle may hurt, be swollen and we believe that we have injured it.
The ankle is a sensitive joint, let’s remember that we support our whole body on it for hours, and as happens with the knees or the hips, any creaking can be a sign that something is not quite right.
What is it and where is it located?
We have already given some clue, and it is that it is in the ankle . More specifically, at the junction between the tibia bone and the upper part of the ankle bone, the latter also known as the talus. An intense pain that occurs with a very peculiar symptomatology that we will see in the next section.
This part is damaged because it is entirely covered with cartilage and, despite the fact that it is a resistant tissue with a rubbery texture, if it is not in good condition or very strong and sudden damaging movements are made, it can be damaged.
An injury to the talar dome is nothing more than an injury to the ankle joint. This is usually known in medicine as an osteochondral defect , and they usually arise after a strong ankle sprain, which is why it is so important to cure the initial injuries, so that the following ones do not bring collateral damage.
Signs and symptoms
The signs and symptoms of this particular injury are clear to some professionals, but a series of radiological tests are still needed to confirm it. We will see this in the next section where we will explain the diagnosis.
- Chronic pain inside the ankle.
- Instability and pain when standing.
- Occasional cracks in the ankle.
- Feeling that the ankle is caught or, on the contrary, gives in easily.
- Recurring swollen ankle, but with rest they calm down.
As we always say when we talk about an injury, our symptoms may not coincide with these, or it may be, but we do not have this injury but another one in a nearby place. There are many bones, tendons, joints, and nerve endings in your feet, and you have to take good care of them.
Diagnosis
It will be a specialist doctor who assesses our pain and determines what type of injury we have. To do this, they will most likely ask for an MRI and several X-rays of the ankle, both from the front and from the sides.
The doctor will ask about recent injuries, such as falls, the shoes we wear, what sport we play, etc. Physical examination with movement of the ankle is quite likely. If the injury is detected, sometimes there are specialists who inject an analgesic directly into the joint and ask for a few days’ rest.
If we see that the injury does not subside and the ankle continues to swell occasionally, it is best to go to a foot and ankle specialist. They will ask us for more tests and there will be a physical examination, in which we may suffer pain.
Each injury is different, and based on this, the doctor will determine the most appropriate treatment to relieve the patient so that he can continue with his life as soon as possible.
Treatment
Initially, and as always, all options other than undergoing surgery are put on the table. Operations, even with local anesthesia and we are healthy, can carry many risks.
For now, with the clear lesion, the expert will tell us that we can perform some of these treatments, although the most effective is to perform several at the same time to obtain faster results:
- Physiotherapy: Several physiotherapy sessions can help us improve the range of motion and strengthen the area so that the injury subsides and the foot is strong in order to continue with a normal life.
- Immobilization: It depends a lot on the professional who treats us and the state of our injury, but as a general rule immobilization is done with a plaster cast or rigid prosthesis. And meanwhile he strengthens with physical therapy to regain range of motion.
- Anti- inflammatories: normally they are usually oral, but it depends on the professional and what he sees as most recommended. They must always be non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen to reduce inflammation and reduce pain in the area.
complications
We always say that when something hurts, we should go to the specialist and not think that in 2 days it will be over and we continue as if nothing had happened. Injuries and pain accumulate and that is what can happen with a talar dome injury, which if it becomes complicated can cause arthritis in the joint and that leads to chronic swelling and pain.
In addition, with the pain, we will limit our movements, and in the end we will be harming the entire health of our body and limiting our life. When the injury is complicated, the diagnosis and treatment are the same, so it is better to do it on time in case we can avoid pain.
Is it necessary to operate?
Necessary or not, that is only determined by a medical professional together with the affected person. Surgery is necessary when there are pieces of bone inside the joint and the cartilage is badly damaged. Currently there are different techniques for this injury, it is important that they explain to us at all times the method to be used, the type of anesthesia, the postoperative period, the rehabilitation, if it heals forever, etc.
We recommend the operation as long as we have tried all of the above and the doctor has given his approval. In addition, if a professional does not give us confidence, we can look for another with whom we connect better in the doctor-patient relationship, which is so important when it comes to foot surgery.
