Continue with onX Maps
Sign in with Facebook
Talus fracture and partial displacement, healing advice and support
|
And remember: a strong mind, a strong body. That is my mantra when it is too hard, and I want to give up. |
|
I'm very happy to have found this thread and read though a range of different experiences. I hope everyone's recovery continues in a positive vein. By way of catharsis, here's my experience. I'm currently three weeks from the accident. My first trip to the Buttermilks was preceded by long drive from LA. Made a number of obvious mistakes: didn't warm up properly and didn't have my head in the right place to be climbing highballs. Half an hour later I'd come off Saigon from about 2 meters onto a thin pad at an angle and my ankle went bang. I couldn't weight the foot and the ankle swelled up very quickly, there was also an audible crack when my foot hit the ground. I was very lucky to be with someone who has extensive orthopedic connections and following some advice from a surgeon we made the call to head to the hospital in Mammoth, rather than Bishop I was also fortunate that the surgeon on rotation at the ER was a foot and ankle specialist. X-rays and CT revealed a non displaced transverse fracture through the distal fibular and an oblique, relatively non-displaced fracture through the talar neck with comminuted fracture fragments at the posterior medial aspect of the fracture. There is also a cortical fracture through the distal medial malleolus. I signed surgical consent forms but the surgeon suggested that, before operating, he could manipulate the ankle whilst I was sedated and do stress X-rays to check the integrity of the ankle. This procedure, thankfully, suggested that the ankle was stable and surgery on the talus wasn't required. I made it out of hospital the same day, high as a kite, in a soft cast. I live in Austria and made the decision to get home as soon as possible. I got myself to LAX the following day and begged myself on a flight to Munich, arriving home 40 hours after the accident. I arranged a second opinion with a surgeon in Salzburg the day after I got home. He confirmed that surgery wasn't required and switched my soft cast out for a boot. He also booked me in for four weekly sessions of electromagnetic bone stimulation. From what I can gather, the published science behind this treatment is quite convincing for non-union fractures and could help avoid AVN in the talus. I've had two of these sessions, they are sore, particularly on the fibula. I'll be non-weight bearing for four weeks before gently starting to use my foot in the boot. (no more than 20kg) Reading through this thread, I realize I have been very fortunate in comparison to some. I also recognize that everyone's recovery is different. I'll check back in in a few months to explain how things are progressing and if I can share any useful information. |
|
Hi Sarah! I sustained this exact same injury in 2016, except it happened falling off a boulder problem in the gym lolzzz..... I also got surgery and some screws/metal put in. 7 years out, I am able to do pretty much everything I did before (running, climbing, skiing, etc.), but there is just some difference in the mobility. Honestly the time I notice it the most is during yoga, when we do low squats my affected ankle just still doesn't have the same mobility to put my foot flat. It was a long recovery for me (months on crutches), but definitely possible to be back doing what you like to do! I definitely could have been more on top of doing my PT exercises every single day, so my suggestion is to just be really diligent with that. I feel like if I had been doing them daily rather than a few times a week I would probably have more mobility than I do now. Hope that was somewhat helpful! Good luck, sorry you had to go through it, its a very painful injury. LMK if you have any other questions! |
|
James, you are lucky and I'm very happy for you. I think dislocating my sub-Taylor joint caused more long-term problems than actually breaking the bone. Here's to your recovery, I hope it's short and successful. |
 I felt it break. Badly displaced (Hawkins Grade III). Eight hours for my companions to carry me down below a weather ceiling and then got a helicopter ride to the hospital. Good times. The team there reduced the dislocation and told me they didn’t have the expertise to do the surgery. Sent me to Anchorage where I had two surgeries. First put the bone back in the proper orientation ( it was rotated 90 degrees the wrong way). External fixator for 10 days and then a second surgery to put internal hardware in. I have a great doc, though he has been less than optimistic. I’m older (52 yo) and the nature of the injury means AVN is highly likely, loss of range of motion, never the same blah blah blah. At the two month mark he started to express a bit more optimism and cleared me for weight bearing. Bone seems to have healed well to this point. I don’t have to wear the stupid boot to sleep either which has been great and I rarely wear it when I’m at home or at work. I move it a lot within the limitations prescribed by the doc and PT. I’m not a drinker/no drugs or smoking and the only pain meds I used were Tylenol and Motrin for the first few weeks. Been eating healthy and taking supplements just trying to be a model patient. Of course, it does hurt. I have a long way to go. I know lots can happen over the next 1-3 years. I figured I’d add to the mix…the info here has been a great help at getting my mindset right, that I can come back and do the things I love again. I really only care about climbing to the same mediocre level I was already at. I’m hoping to do at least that. |
|
A great attitude goes a long way in the healing process and you seem to have that in spades my man. |
|
I figured I'd give an update, 3.5 years out from my surgery. The most surprising thing to me is how much improvement I saw even post years one and two. Maybe this is because my insurance only paid for 4 months of PT so I didn't do as much as I should have, but as compared to a year post surgery my ankle is way better in terms of swelling, strength and flexibility. Even two years out my left calf was (subtly, but noticeably) smaller than my right. Now they're basically equal. I've even gone back to running. The next most surprising thing is how you can adapt and be happy doing different activities than you did before. I've cut down on climbing a lot - I can still do it, but it feels pretty dangerous, and I got more into yoga during the time my foot was really weak. Pre-surgery, when a doctor told me I may never run or climb again but I could do low impact activities like yoga instead, I almost cried. But now I am into yoga, so! All this to say that I think patience is huge with this injury. I do still have some issues (tendonitis, two neuromas, limited dorsiflexion) but my surgeon is optimistic we can continue to do "refinements" to see more improvement. If I could do it again, I would have kept up the PT home exercises for a full year even after my insurance cut me off (and even though they are so so boring). Good luck! And don't beat yourself up. Everybody makes mistakes. It could have been worse. Life is long (hopefully) and you will get better. PS I did end up getting the monovisc injection a year ago, which may have helped with the flexibility. |
|
Hello Sarah, I broke my talus in what was called a talor neck fracture on December 23rd,1997 in a ice climbing lead fall of only 6 feet. Crampons and ice falls don't mix well. I experienced a little vertigo when I first started to climb again with a sensation of falling even when I was firmly on the wall. It took me about 6 months to begin moving more comfortably and I started to run, slowly, as soon as I was cleared by my doctor. Several friends with the same fracture has experienced extensive, long lasting pain with some going as far as fusing the bones. I have had what I would call a 100% recovery with no lingering issues at all. In 2004 I started running ultramarathons (50 milers) completing 4 and participating in many other. These runs continued that through 2012 so recovery is possible. Mine was decades ago and I was told that I should expect arthritic pain at some point but this many years later that has not yet been the case. Best advice is to listen to the doctors / physical therapists and put in the work. For me, the scar tissue breakup was the hardest part in terms of time and mobility limitations. But as Will Gadd says in his video MOVE, quoting Newton "Objects in motion stay in motion" meaning just keep moving in accordance with your doctors / therapists instructions. Put in the work and have faith! I never stopped climbing and still lead ice climbs today. Planning on going out this next weekend. Ice climbing is still my favorite sport of all. Good luck and be patient with yourself! |
|
Hi all, I had a motorbike accident on july 2023 with open fracture of left anckle, with talus broken to 3 pieces of what doctor could salvaged and also fracture in calcanios. First 3 weeks was with ex fixation, and after 3 weeks doc put 4 screws that held my talus fractures. I in PT now 6 months. After 6 weeks of surgery, I started walking with boot, but after few weeks doctors found in xray that there might be an AVN in talus and told me not to put weight on the leg for 6 weeks. After thos weeks xray showed approvment and doc allowed to put weight and start walking with regular shoes, but now it felt that achilles is shortend and dorsiflexion got worse and lack 8 degrees to put ancke on the ground. After another 6 weeks came back to the doc after CT, in with it showed that talus dome still not connected and it could be AVN. doc told to come back in 3 months, and for now continue with it and put weight as much as I can. also explained that I will need another surgery of fusion,not sure yet if fusion talus with calcaneus or also with tibia, non of options I would prefer. I walking with crutches and almost cant walk without because of pain. I heard of another surgery that it isn't done in my country, total talus replacement with 3d printed talus. has any one done this? also what are surgery prices in US? thx. |
Davis Aronovich wrote: |
 4.5 months in now. Doc says there is no evidence of the break. I pointed out the screws and plates as evidence. Haha. Playing with movement has been fun. Most of the ROM is back but still not quite as good as I’d like it. I can almost get to a full depth squat, heels down. Balance has been my biggest challenge. Playing a lot with that. I also got on the climbing wall last week. Lots of work to do there. I think if I were younger I’d be a lot more impatient, but the process of working on this has actually been somewhat satisfying. Maybe I’ve just gotten old. The Echo Bike and exercises that incorporate strength and balance seem to be helping a lot. I plan to post occasionally. Others that posted really helped me keep a positive attitude in the early stages of this injury, so maybe I can do the same for someone else. |
|
Hello! I have had 9 months post my talus surgery,i had a broken talus open fracture.i had 3 months external fixator and took only 2 months of pth. Still cant walk normally and have pain walking!but i walk without crutches.Also my ankle is very locked. Very anxious about this situation Anyone in the same position? I wish a good recovery for everyone. |
|
Hey everyone, I really appreciate you all sharing your stories. Definitely one of the more positive groups ive seen. I sustained a minimally displaced fracture to the posterior medial aspect of my talar body back in late feb with some subtalar involvement. I had an ORIF on mar 29th, I had to let my swelling go down and had to see 2 different doctors. My last xray looks like im healing ok. I get to start pwb next week which will put me at a little over 8 weeks out from surgery. My dr however seems very pessimistic about my recovery. Making doing normal things sound like theyll be a miracle.... Im trying not to let her get in my head but man oh man did it make for a tough few days. |
|
Chelsea, My doctor was similarly pessimistic about my return to climbing. I'm pretty much back to where I was pre-injury, though it did take a few painful and scary months. I realize every injury is different, but knowing others have recovered is helpful. Best of luck! Sean |
|
I had a doctor that said "Well at least you learned your lesson and this could have been worse." Than was appalled when I said I was going to continue to climb. So my thought is that most people can't understand why we climb anything in the first place , let alone understand the drive we have to continue to do so. So stay optimistic!!! |
Scott Biegert wrote: Thank you, Scott! Glad to hear youre doing ok. I try to remind myself she is probably scared to tell me it will be ok and then be wrong but mannn way to crush some spirits LOL. |
Scott Biegert wrote: Thank you, Scott! Glad to hear youre doing ok. I try to remind myself she is probably scared to tell me it will be ok and then be wrong but mannn way to crush some spirits LOL. |
|
I am 7 months post surgery now. Spent month 6 in Boulder and got in over 40 pitches of climbing. Climbing hurts the least of all the activities I am able to do. Hiking up to ten miles now, but that puts me down for a day or so afterwards. My ortho has been pessimistic from the start and I think this is common with this injury. Don't listen to them. Put in the work and be patient. Focus on the small gains and play with movement (there is so much you can do, even in the early stages). There is a lot of pain with this recovery and I think a lot of people give up on it and relegate themselves to basic functioning. I know it will never be the same, but I also can see that I will get back to a place where I can keep playing the way I like to. I am already climbing close to the grade I was pre-injury. Took a lead fall and that was fine too. I read a study that impact strengthens the bone and have been doing light plyos twice a day (jumping in place, ladder drills etc.). Seems to help loosen things up. |
|
Hello guys, if i may ask does any have of u have any suggestions of the products that helps with talus fracture. Any creams or type of shoes,sprays or any other product which makes it easier to heal |
|
Hi, I am a young girl. Just starting highschool. The injury was treated as a minor sprain initially. In a boot and crutches for a week, swelling was severe. Then just boot for a week. Eventually returned to running, swelling was still bad. Didn’t seem right. A month post incident, had the school trainer examine it. He was very concerned at the looseness of it. Went back to Dr. Has an MRI, discovered both ligaments on the side were torn, front ligament was extremely stretched and a talus fracture in the front. My Dr. apparently decides to tell me nothing. No specifics on the type of fracture or anything. So back to square one, 6 weeks NWB. Then afterward 1 week of easing off crutches. Another 7-10 days after that easing out of the boot. I only got one season of XC in, and it’s all I want to do. So badly. I’m so scared this is going to keep lasting, and the dorisflexion thing is pretty severe and will limit running in general severely. I know this is a rock climbing site so I apologize, but maybe my story will help or relate to someone who stumbled here like I did. I have a strong feeling that I’m not really in the homestretch… |
