Talus bipartitus: a systematic review and report of two cases with arthroscopic treatment

Purpose: The aim of this study was to provide a literature review on talus bipartitus and to introduce an arthroscopic treatment option. Methods: A systematic review of published case reports and small case series was performed. Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Google Scholar and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant publications. In addition, three cases of talus bipartitus treated in our institute were discussed. Results: Eleven articles were identified, reporting on 23 patients, of whom one patient had a bilateral talus bipartitus. Fourteen were males (61%). The median age at presentation was 15.5 years (IQR 14–24.3). In 21 of the symptomatic cases (96%), the patient experienced ankle pain, and 13 had a restricted range of motion (54%). In our institution, two patients were treated arthroscopically and had excellent short- and long-term outcomes. Conclusion: Talus bipartitus is a rare anatomical anomaly. Symptoms are characterized by pain and restricted subtalar motion in young patients. Surgical treatment is focused on either fixation or excision of the bony fragment. Our two cases have demonstrated that an arthroscopic approach can be a safe and effective treatment option in patients with a symptomatic talus bipartitus. Level of evidence: IV.