[Treatment of non-traumatic avascular talar necrosis by transposition of vascularized cuneiform bone flap plus iliac cancellous bone grafting].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the outcome of cancellous bone grafting plus iliac cancellous bone in the treatment of non-traumatic avascular talar necrosis.

METHODS

Twenty patients, 14 males and six females, eight at stage II, ten at stage III and three at stage IV according to the modified Ficat & Arlet necrosis classification system, were treated with vascularized bone flap from January 2000 to June 2005.

RESULTS

All patients were followed up for a mean of 37 months (range: 14 to 68 months). The clinical function outcome evaluated by Kenwright criteria were excellent in 8 cases, good in 10 cases, fair in 1 case and poor in 1 case. Clinical symptom was completely or partially relieved. The necrotic area was filled with newly formed bone and the excellent-to-good rate was 90%.

CONCLUSION

Transposition of vascularized cuneiform bone flap plus iliac cancellous bone grafting may be an ideal therapeutic method for non-traumatic avascular talar necrosis. And the clinical outcome is satisfactory.