[Partial or total enucleation of the talus. Value of conservative treatment. Apropos of 8 cases].

Eight cases of talus enucleations are reported. The patients ranged in age from 18 to 62 years. The follow-up period in this study extended from one year to 12 years. The talus was reduced in six cases and usually fixed with a trans-plantar pin. The main problem in the conservative treatment was represented by early infection which required a calcaneo-tibial arthrodesis. On the other hand, necrosis of the talus, although unavoidable, is usually well tolerated. That may be explained by the fact that the necrosis is dense and congruous and does not lead to severe arthritic changes. Among 5 cases of necrosis of the talus, fusion of the ankle and of the sub-talar joint was indicated in only one patient. The authors conclude that the conservative treatment should be systematically tempted and that arthrodesis should be indicated only for the infections, that usually appear early or the osteoarthritic changes which appear later.