Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooTalus Fracture
Ankle & Lower Leg
What It Is
The talus is a foot bone that sits above the heel bone (calcaneus). The bones of the lower leg (the tibia and fibula) ride on its top and sides to form the ankle joint. Where the talus and heel bone meet, the subtalar joint is formed, which is crucial for walking on uneven ground. The talus is the main connector between the foot and the leg, and helps transfer weight and pressure forces across the ankle joint (AAOS, n.d.).
Most talus fractures are caused by high-energy trauma, such as a car accident or a fall from a height. Sports injuries, especially snowboarding, are another, less common, cause (AAOS, n.d.).
Symptoms include sharp pain, being unable to walk or put weight on the foot, and considerable swelling, bruising and tenderness (AAOS, n.d.). Most people go to an emergency department because their symptoms are so severe. An X-ray will usually be taken, and if more information is needed a CT scan may be arranged (AAOS, n.d.).
Talus Fracture Anatomy
The talus sits between the tibia and fibula above and the heel bone below. Most of it is covered with smooth articular cartilage, which lets it glide against its neighbouring bones. The talus most often breaks through its middle part, called the "neck". It can also break through a bony bump on its outside called the lateral process; these fractures are commonly seen in snowboarders (AAOS, n.d.).
Do I Wear a Boot with a Talus Fracture?
It depends, and your fracture team will decide. You may be placed in a cast and use crutches, or you may later be fitted with a special boot. Always follow your surgeon's instructions about how much weight to put on your foot, as putting weight on it too soon can make the bone pieces move (AAOS, n.d.).
Not a diagnosis — for more information, contact me or another trusted healthcare provider.
Treatment
Self-Care & Treatment
Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor, nurse practitioner or medical team
Recovery
After the cast is removed or the wound has healed, you will be given exercises to help restore movement and strength in your ankle and foot (AAOS, n.d.). I can guide you through these exercises and help with stiffness and swelling, within the limits your fracture team sets. See the My Approach tab for how I work. Follow your fracture team's instructions throughout.
Tips
- If you have a fracture of this nature, you need to make sure it is treated properly. Complications can include avascular necrosis, where the blood supply to the bone is damaged and the bone slowly collapses, and arthritis after the injury (AAOS, n.d.).
- Snowboarding can cause a fracture of the lateral process of the talus, sometimes called "snowboarder's ankle". It makes up around 15% of snowboarding ankle injuries (Ng et al., 2013).
- Falling from an elevated height can cause a talus fracture, as well as injuries to other parts of the body such as the legs, pelvis and spine, which your doctor will check for (AAOS, n.d.).
Treatment
My Approach
A broken talus needs careful protection, because putting weight on the foot too soon can make the bone pieces move. Your fracture team decides on any cast, boot or surgery and how much weight you can put through the foot. I work inside those limits. If you had surgery, or the fracture stops your normal daily tasks, I need your surgeon's or fracture team's okay before any hands-on treatment.
Please bring any X-ray or scan reports and notes from your medical team to your first visit. They're an important part of planning safe treatment for you.
I check what you've been cleared for and ask about any other injuries, then assess how your hips, knees and toes move, and later your ankle and foot.
In the Cast or Boot
- Easing the other leg, hips and back, and your shoulders if you're on crutches
- Gentle lymphatic drainage above the cast or boot, and raising the leg when you can
- Hip, knee and toe exercises, and help using your crutches safely
After the Cast or Boot
What to Expect
Typical Course
What I Focus On
Please read
When to See a Doctor First
When to Get Emergency Help
If you think you may have broken your talus, call 911 or go to the emergency room at your nearest hospital, especially if:
- bone is poking through the skin, or there is a wound over the injury (an open fracture, which carries a higher risk of infection) (AAOS, n.d.)
- the foot or ankle has changed shape or is pointing at an odd angle (NHS, 2024)
- the foot or toes are numb, tingling or have pins and needles (NHS, 2024)
- the skin has turned blue or grey or feels cold to touch (NHS, 2024)
- the pain is severe and getting worse, which can be a sign of a build-up of pressure in the leg muscles called compartment syndrome, a medical emergency (AAOS, n.d.)
Sources
References
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (n.d.) Talus fractures. OrthoInfo. Available at: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/talus-fractures/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
- Ng, E.S., O'Neill, B.J., Cunningham, L.P. and Quinlan, J.F. (2013) 'Snowboard, wakeboard, dashboard? Isolated fracture of the lateral process of the talus in a high-speed road traffic accident', BMJ Case Reports, 2013, bcr2013200357. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-200357
- NHS (2024) Sprains and strains. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sprains-and-strains/ (Accessed: 8 October 2026).