Rare case of pure medial subtalar dislocation in a basketball player

Abdellatif Benabbouha, Nacer Ibou

PAMJ. 2016; 23:106. Published 16 Mar 2016 | doi:10.11604/pamj.2016.23.106.8848

Pure acute medial subtalar dislocation without any fractures is very rare and hardly reported in the literature, it represents approximately 1% of all dislocations. This injury is defined as simultaneous dislocation of both thetal on avicular and the talocal caneal joints without a major fracture. It is not commonly seen as a sports injury because it requires transfer of a high energy.Optimal management of subtalar dislocations is immediate closed reduction with procedural sedation. We report a very rare case of a closed subtalar dislocation without any related fractures. A 22 year old male was admitted to the emergency department with pain and ankle deformity following an inversion injury during a basketball game. In his physical examination, the left foot was displaced medially and talus was prominent dorso laterally (A). However, there was not any neurovascular compromise. The X-ray examination revealed medial subtalar dislocation without associated fractures (B, C). A computed tomography scan with 3D reconstruction confirmed the isolated dislocation. Under procedural sedation the reduction was successfully performed by an external maneuver (D). The ankle was immobilized in a short leg cast for 8 weeks. At 24 months follow-up, the patient was autonomous and active without instability at the left ankle.
Corresponding author
Abdellatif Benabbouha, Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologique I, Hôpital Militaire d’Instruction Mohamed V, Rabat, Maroc (benbouha.abdel@yahoo.fr)


The Pan African Medical Journal (ISSN: 1937-8688) is a subsidiary of the Pan African Medical Journal. The contents of this journal is intended exclusively for professionals in the medical, paramedical and public health and other health sectors.

Currently tracked by: DOAJ, AIM, Google Scholar, AJOL, EBSCO, Scopus, Embase, IC, HINARI, Global Health, PubMed Central, PubMed/Medline, ESCI

Physical address: Kenya: 3rd Floor, Park Suite Building, Parkland Road, Nairobi. PoBox 38583-00100, tel: +254 (0)20-520-4356 | Cameroon: Immeuble TechnoPark Essos, Yaounde, PoBox: 10020 Yaounde, tel: +237 (0)24-309-5880