Avascular Osteonecrosis of the Talus: Current Treatment Strategies

Abstract

Avascular osteonecrosis (AVN) of the talus (AVNT) is a painful and challenging clinical diagnosis. AVNT has multiple known risk factors and etiologies and presents at different stages in severity. Given these unique factors, the optimal treatment solution has yet to be determined. Both joint-preserving and joint-sacrificing procedures are available, including core decompression and arthrodeses. Recently, new salvage and replacement techniques have been described including vascularized pedicle bone grafts and total talus replacement using patient-specific prosthesis; however, evidence remains limited. This review examines the current trends AVNT treatment and the emerging data behind these novel techniques.