talar

Talar is an anatomical term used to describe structures pertaining to the talus, one of the tarsal bones of the foot. The talus, also known as the ankle bone, forms the link between the leg and the foot and plays a central role in the ankle joint by transmitting weight from the tibia to the foot and enabling dorsiflexion and plantarflexion, as well as some rotation.

The talus has a body, neck, and head. The trochlear surface of the body forms the ankle mortise with the distal ends of the tibia and fibula. The head articulates anteriorly with the navicular bone, while the inferior surface of the body articulates with the calcaneus to form the subtalar joint. The neck is relatively narrow and is a common site of fracture.

The talus receives blood from several arteries, including branches from the posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis arteries. The retrograde nature of talar blood flow makes the talus susceptible to avascular necrosis after fracture, especially when the neck is involved.

Talus injuries occur mainly from high-energy trauma, such as falls or vehicle accidents. Fractures of the talar neck, dislocations, and osteochondral lesions of the talar dome require careful assessment. Imaging typically begins with radiographs; CT clarifies bony details, while MRI detects cartilage and bone marrow changes.

Non-displaced fractures may be managed with immobilization and protected weight bearing; displaced fractures or osteochondral injuries often require surgical intervention, potentially including open reduction and internal fixation.