Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Associated With a Bipartite Talus.

BACKGROUND: Talus bipartitus is a rare skeletal anomaly that may be mistaken for an os trigonum, a relatively common accessory ossicle found posterior to the talus. Both are believed to be formed similarly with the failed fusion of the talus with a second ossification center. Os trigonum is often diagnosed incidentally or found on radiographs obtained in symptomatic patients with signs of os trigonum syndrome, which presents with posterolateral ankle pain. A bipartite talus may also present with similar symptoms but may be differentiated through its articular involvement.

CASE: In this article, we describe the rare presentation of tarsal tunnel syndrome in a patient caused by a bipartite talus. The patient underwent surgical decompression with the removal of the posterior fragment.

CONCLUSION: A bipartite talus is a rare entity that may be mistaken for an os trigonum, a common accessory ossicle. In this article, we describe an outcome of a bipartite talus fragment removal due to tarsal tunnel syndrome and illustrate a rare pathological consequence of a bipartite talus. We further highlight the importance of early surgical management in patients presenting with an identifiable structure contributing to tibial nerve compression.