Clinical Use of Talar Prostheses

Abstract

»: The blood supply to the talus is vulnerable to damage, making the talus susceptible to osteonecrosis, with limited treatment options.

»: Talar bone replacement has been investigated as a treatment option to preserve ankle function and maintain limb length.

»: Successful talar bone replacements have been performed for the past >35 years, with variations in design, methods of fixation, materials, and manufacturing techniques.

»: The designs of talar prostheses range from custom-made partial (talar body) or total prostheses to prefabricated universal (non-custom-made) prostheses.

»: Total talar prostheses have been demonstrated to function better than partial talar prostheses; however, there is a need for long-term studies regarding custom-made total talar prostheses and prefabricated universal talar prostheses in order to determine their long-term effectiveness.