Excision of Posterolateral Talar Dome Lesions through a Medial Transmalleolar Approach

Posterolateral osteochondral fractures of the talus are rare. Although arthroscopy is becoming an increasingly important method of evaluating and treating lesions of the ankle, these techniques may not always be feasible, especially for posterolateral lesions. Classic treatment of displaced or symptomatic chronic lesions is excision, usually with a distal fibular osteotomy and turndown procedure. Subsequent removal of the syndesmosis screw is required. The surgical dissection of the distal fibula is extensive and devascularizing. An alternate technique for debriding posterolateral talar dome lesions through a medial transmalleolar approach is described. Exposure of the lateral talar dome is sufficient to allow debridement and curettage of the lesion. Anatomic rigid fixation of the medial malleolus allows for rapid healing of the osteotomy site and immediate ankle rehabilitation. For those ankle lesions that are not accessible to arthroscopy or an anterolateral arthrotomy, this approach is preferable to the distal fibular osteotomy and turndown.