Talus Lateral Process Fracture! Also known as Snowboarder fracture and often missed on initial radiographs. The lateral process of the talus articulates with both the anterolateral calcaneus (part of the subtalar joint) and with the tip of the distal fibulae. The snowboarder fracture occurs while in prominent axial loading with forced foot dorsiflexion and inversion, thus a distraction injury. The Hawkings criteria divides this fracture in three types. Type I , which is the most common, consist of a linear fracture at the base of the lateral process and extends into the tibiofibular and posterior subtalar joint - treatment is usually internal fixation. Type II is a comminuted fracture that involves the whole lateral process and extends into both articulations – treatment is usually surgical with fracture fragments removal/excision. Type III is an unicortical “chip” fracture of the anteroinferior process and extends only to the subtalar joint – treatment is usually immobilization and rest.
