Review Question - QID 8145

The patient has a talar neck fracture that is associated with several well-known complications. Posttraumatic arthritis is the most common complication and osteonecrosis is slightly less common. These two complications are often out of the control of the orthopaedic surgeon and do not seem to be influenced by the timing of fixation. Malunion and nonunion are relatively uncommon when an anatomic reduction and stable fixation can be obtained. Open reduction can help ensure the best possible reduction, and plate fixation may be a more stable method of fixation, especially useful in preventing collapse through areas of comminution. Osteomyelitis is rare in closed fractures.