Common foot & ankle concerns we treat
- Pain that limits walking, standing, or sleep
- Stiffness, swelling, or reduced range of motion
- Sports injuries — acute or overuse
- Arthritis or post-traumatic joint changes
- Conditions other doctors couldn’t resolve
Foot & Ankle · Conditions A–Z
Talus Fracture ankle bone break
A talus fracture is a break in the talus — the small but critical bone that connects your leg to your foot and forms the lower half of the ankle joint. Because these are usually high-energy injuries, prompt evaluation matters, and we offer same-day or next-week assessments across eight LA-area offices.
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Surgical and non-surgical options at LAOSS.
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What sets LAOSS apart
- Same- or next-day appointments at eight Los Angeles–area offices
- On-site imaging; PT coordinated with your in-network provider
- Conservative-first care, surgery only when needed
- Board-certified specialists, not generalists
Key takeaways
- A talus fracture is a break in the ankle bone that links your leg to your foot — most often from a high-energy fall or car accident.
- The talus has a fragile blood supply, so accurate diagnosis and the right treatment matter to lower the risk of avascular necrosis and arthritis.
- Truly nondisplaced fractures can heal in a non-weightbearing cast or boot; displaced fractures usually need surgical realignment and fixation.
- On-site imaging at most offices and same-day or next-week appointments across eight Los Angeles-area locations.
Overview
What is talus fracture?
A talus fracture is a break in the talus, the bone that sits between your shinbone and your heel and forms the lower part of the ankle joint. The talus carries your full body weight with every step and is mostly covered in cartilage, which leaves little room for blood vessels to enter — so getting the diagnosis and treatment right early really matters.
Most talus fractures come from high-energy trauma, such as a fall from height or a motor vehicle accident, where the foot is forced upward against the leg. Because of the bone's delicate, largely backward-running blood supply, displaced fractures carry a meaningful risk of avascular necrosis (where part of the bone loses its blood flow) and later post-traumatic arthritis. The Hawkins classification, widely used in foot and ankle orthopedics, links the amount of displacement to that risk.
Below, we walk through the symptoms and causes we most often see, how we confirm the diagnosis with imaging, and the full range of treatment options — from non-weightbearing immobilization for stable, nondisplaced breaks to surgical realignment and fixation when the bone has shifted.
Patient education
Watch: Talus Fracture
This is a break of the bone that sits above the heel bone and below the lower leg bones. The talus forms the lower part of the ankle joint. A talus fracture is a serious injury that needs medical care.
Animations licensed from ViewMedica · Swarm Interactive
Anatomy of the foot & ankle — tibia, talus, calcaneus, metatarsals, and the plantar fascia.
Anatomy
Inside the foot & ankle.
The foot and ankle have 26 bones, more than 30 joints, and over 100 ligaments and tendons. The plantar fascia spans the bottom of the foot, the Achilles tendon anchors the calf to the heel, and the ankle is a hinge that handles every step you take. Most foot and ankle problems trace back to overload, alignment, or footwear that doesn’t match the way your foot is built.
Self-orient
When talus fracture shows up.
Symptoms
Common symptoms
- Severe ankle and hindfoot pain right after a fall or impact
- Inability to bear weight or walk on the foot
- Significant swelling and bruising around the ankle
- Tenderness deep in front of the ankle and over the hindfoot
- Visible deformity of the ankle in more severe, displaced breaks
- Stiffness and pain with any attempt to move the ankle
Causes
Common causes
- Fall from a height landing on the feet
- Motor vehicle or motorcycle accident
- Forced upward bending (dorsiflexion) of the foot against the leg
- High-energy sports or recreational impacts
- Ankle twisting injuries severe enough to chip or break the talus
Diagnostics
How we diagnose talus fracture
You want answers, fast — and we’re built to give them. Most patients leave their first LAOSS visit with a clear diagnosis and a written plan, not another referral chain.
Here’s what your initial visit for talus fracture typically looks like:
- Detailed history — when it started, what makes it better or worse, what you’ve already tried
- Focused exam of the foot & ankle — range of motion, stability, strength, specific provocation tests
- On-site imaging at most offices: X-ray for bone, ultrasound or MRI when soft-tissue detail is needed
- A written plan with options ranging from conservative care to surgical procedures, in plain English
Schedule your evaluation with a trusted Greater Los Angeles orthopedic expert today.
Treatment options
How we treat talus fracture at LAOSS
Once we’ve confirmed the diagnosis, the next step is matching the right treatment to your situation. We start with the least-invasive option that fits — and escalate only when it doesn’t.
Conservative care
Step 1Conservative care first
Non-surgical options designed to relieve pain, restore movement, and avoid the OR when possible.
- Non-weightbearing short-leg cast or boot for stable, nondisplaced fractures
- Strict no-weight-on-the-foot period to protect the healing bone
- Crutches, a knee scooter, or other assistive devices for mobility
- Serial X-rays to confirm the bone stays aligned and is healing
- Gradual, supervised return to weight-bearing once healing is confirmed
- Physical therapy to rebuild ankle motion, strength, and balance
Surgical care
When neededSurgical options when needed
Procedures performed by board-certified foot & ankle surgeons when conservative care isn’t enough.
- Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with screws and/or plates for displaced fractures
- Urgent reduction when a fracture-dislocation threatens the skin or blood supply
- Fragment removal or fixation for smaller talar process or chip fractures
- Bone grafting in select fractures with bone loss or poor healing
- Ankle or subtalar fusion as a later option for severe joint damage or arthritis
- Hardware removal in select cases after the bone has fully healed
Surgeon expertise
Why experience matters.
Why experience matters
Foot & Ankle care is highly technique-dependent. Volume, training, and judgment together determine the outcome you actually feel six months later.
- Precise diagnosis from imaging and exam
- Conservative-first care that avoids unnecessary surgery
- Surgical technique refined over thousands of cases
- On-site imaging + coordinated PT through your in-network provider
The LAOSS approach
Our foot & ankle specialists move stepwise — start with the least-invasive option that fits your situation, escalate only when it doesn't.
- Same-day imaging at most offices
- PT coordinated in your insurance network
- Board-certified surgeons performing the procedures themselves
- Direct access to your specialist between visits
Candidacy
Am I a candidate?
If most of these match your situation, an evaluation with a foot & ankle specialist is the next step.
You may be
You may be a candidate if
These signs typically point toward an in-person evaluation with a foot & ankle specialist.
- You've had a hard fall, car accident, or impact and can't bear weight on the ankle
- Severe ankle pain, swelling, and bruising came on suddenly after an injury
- An X-ray elsewhere showed a talus fracture and you want a specialist's plan
- You have an obvious ankle deformity after trauma and need urgent evaluation
- You're recovering from a talus fracture and want to confirm it's healing properly
Evaluation
What evaluation includes
Your first visit is built to give you an answer the same day, not just another referral.
- Detailed history — onset, mechanism, what makes it better or worse
- Hands-on exam focused on the affected joint or region
- On-site imaging at most offices (X-ray, ultrasound)
- Clear plan with options ranging from conservative to surgical
- Same-day or next-day scheduling for any follow-up tests
ImportantSeek urgent evaluation for sudden severe pain, an open wound or exposed bone, foot or ankle deformity after trauma, loss of sensation, or any sign of infection (fever, spreading redness, or swelling).
Recovery
Your foot & ankle recovery roadmap.
Recovery is rarely a straight line — but a clear plan with measurable milestones makes the path predictable.
01Days 0–14
Right after care
In the first two weeks we focus on protecting the foot & ankle, calming inflammation, and restoring basic motion.
- Activity modification with clear do/don’t guidance
- Ice, elevation, and pain control as needed
- Gentle range-of-motion within safe limits
- Follow-up scheduled to track healing
02Weeks 2–8
Rehabilitation
Targeted physical therapy rebuilds strength, mobility, and confidence in the foot & ankle.
- Progressive strengthening and neuromuscular work
- Manual therapy and soft-tissue treatment
- Sport- or job-specific movement re-training
- Coordinated PT through your in-network provider
03Months 2+
Long-term care
Once function is restored, the focus shifts to keeping you there — and catching any recurrence early.
- Return-to-activity plan with measured benchmarks
- Home program tailored to your sport or job
- Maintenance visits or imaging if symptoms change
- Direct line back to your specialist if needed
Risks & considerations
What to weigh before you decide.
We talk through the risks and benefits with every patient — informed consent is a conversation, not a form.
General
General considerations
Every orthopedic intervention carries a small set of standard risks. We screen, prepare, and monitor for these on every patient.
- Infection (rare with modern technique and prophylaxis)
- Bleeding or bruising at the treatment site
- Reaction to anesthesia or medications
- Need for additional procedures in some cases
Specific
Foot & Ankle-specific considerations
Some risks are tied to the structures we're treating in the foot & ankle. We discuss these in detail at your visit so you can weigh them against the benefits.
- Temporary stiffness or weakness during recovery
- Incomplete pain relief in a small percentage of cases
- Nerve or vessel irritation near the treatment area
- Need for follow-up therapy to fully restore function
Your care team
Meet our foot & ankle doctors in the Greater Los Angeles area
At LAOSS, our foot & ankle specialists combine advanced surgical expertise with a patient-first approach. From minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to reconstruction, fracture care, and arthritis management, our physicians bring decades of experience to every case. Trusted across Los Angeles, our team is dedicated to restoring mobility, relieving pain, and helping you return to the activities you love.
Specialists
Meet your foot & ankle specialists.
4 providers
About this care
Trusted talus fracture care in Los Angeles
A talus fracture can feel frightening, especially when you hear words like "avascular necrosis." The honest truth is that outcomes depend heavily on accurate diagnosis and timely, well-judged treatment — which is exactly what our board-certified foot and ankle specialists focus on. With same-day or next-week appointments at multiple Los Angeles locations and on-site imaging at most offices, you won't wait weeks for answers about a serious injury.
From the first cast or surgery through the careful, staged return to walking, we coordinate every step of your recovery — including physical therapy with your in-network provider. You'll always understand your fracture, your options, and what to expect next, explained in plain English.
Patient reviews
What patients say about us.
★★★★★4.97,500+ Google reviews
Wonderful staff. The MA was so kind to my elderly mom and the doctor explained everything twice so she’d remember. Felt like we were treated like family.
Patricia Aguilar
Cerritos, CA · 6 January 2025
FAQ
Common talus fracture questions
- No. Truly nondisplaced fractures can often heal in a non-weightbearing cast or boot with close X-ray monitoring. Displaced fractures usually need surgery to realign the bone and hold it with screws or plates, which we'll discuss in detail before any decision.
- The talus has a fragile blood supply that runs partly backward into the bone, so a displaced break can interrupt that flow and cause part of the bone to die — called avascular necrosis. Prompt, accurate treatment lowers this risk, which is why early specialist evaluation is important.
- Most patients stay off the foot for roughly six to twelve weeks while the bone heals, depending on the fracture and whether surgery was needed. We confirm healing on X-ray before starting a gradual, supervised return to weight-bearing.
- For an obvious deformity, an open wound, severe uncontrolled pain, or signs of compromised circulation, go to the emergency room right away. For a stable, already-splinted injury or to plan ongoing care, our foot and ankle specialists can usually see you same-day or next-week — call (323) 264-7600.
Ready when you are
Don’t wait on pain.
Book a visit with a foot & ankle specialist at any of our eight Los Angeles–area offices.
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21 specialists · 8 offices
Greater Los Angeles
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