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23-year-old female driver crashes into the back of a car that stopped suddenly. During impact, her foot is severely dorsiflexed resulting in severe pain. At the ER, she explains to the attending physician that she thinks she has broken her foot. A lateral plain film of the foot reveals the fracture indicated by the white arrow. Which of the following bones is fractured in this patient?

(A) Navicular
(B) Sustentaculumtali
(C) Talus
(D) Calcaneus

Answer and Explanation - The radiograph reveals a displaced (Hawkins Type II) fracture of the neck of the talus.

• The talus (L: ankle bone) is located between the malleoli of the fibula and tibia and is the only tarsal bone without tendinous or muscular attachments.
• It articulates with the navicular bone anteriorly and the calcaneus bone inferiorly.
• A fracture of the neck of the talus is often seen when a patient is involved in a high impact accident with the foot placed in an exaggerated dorsiflexed position at the ankle joint.

Hawkins Type fracture  (Add to your notes)