Management of a rare case of un-displaced steida process fracture in a young adult male

Abstract

Background: Data on the diagnosis and management of posterior talus fractures in India is limited. Here, we present a rare case report describing the diagnosis and management of a young adult male who presented with posterior process fracture.Case Description: A 21-year male adult presented with complaints of ankle pain for 10 days after a history of twisting injury while playing football. Since the patient refused to undergo any imaging, he was conservatively managed with cold fomentation and painkillers. Nearly three months after the first visit, the patient agreed to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging, which confirmed a linear un-displaced steida process fracture. The patient was finally managed with a below-knee cast for a month and advised to resume brisk walking after another month of the cast removal.Clinical significance: Fractures of the posterior talar may frequently be missed on plain radiography and must be suspected for early diagnosis using detailed clinical examination. Early recognition by computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging can achieve timely management for restoring functional status, reducing disability and improving patient outcomes.