Letter to the Editor
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Oct 26, 2024; 12(30): 6410-6412
Published online Oct 26, 2024. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i30.6410
Beyond the imaging evaluation of fractures of the lateral process of the talus: Let’s not forget concomitant injuries
Cristian Lindner, Pedro Reyes, Eduardo Molina, Andrés Olave
Cristian Lindner, Pedro Reyes, Eduardo Molina, Andrés Olave, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Biobío, Chile
Cristian Lindner, Eduardo Molina, Andrés Olave, Department of Radiology, Hospital Regional Guillermo Grant Benavente, Concepción 4030000, Biobío, Chile
Pedro Reyes, Department of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Hospital Regional Guillermo Grant Benavente, Concepción 4030000, Biobío, Chile
Author contributions: Lindner C designed the manuscript; Reyes P, Molina E, and Olave A contributed to drafting and revision of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The author declares that there is no conflict of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Cristian Lindner, Doctor, MD, Doctor, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Concepción, No. 1290 Victor Lamas, Concepción 4030000, Biobío, Chile. clindner@udec.cl
Received: May 3, 2024
Revised: August 19, 2024
Accepted: August 22, 2024
Published online: October 26, 2024
Processing time: 123 Days and 16.9 Hours
Abstract

Fractures of the lateral process of the talus (FLPT) are uncommon fractures that represent a clinical challenge. Traditional radiological classification systems rely predominantly on radiographic findings. However, due to the high rate of FLPT misdiagnosis and the limited accuracy in evaluating concomitant talar injuries through plain radiographs, novel imaging classification systems have been developed that aim to enhance the diagnosis of concomitant talar injuries, thereby optimizing patient management and reducing the incidence of long-term complications.

Keywords: Talus; Bone fracture; Subtalar joint; Hindfoot injuries; Fracture of the talus; Intraarticular fracture

Core Tip: The development of novel imaging classification systems to improve the diagnosis of fractures of the lateral process of the talus and concomitant talar injuries is imperative. Traditional radiographic methods, if relied upon solely, can result in misdiagnosis, leading to untreated long-term complications and functional consequences for patients.