Osteochondral Lesion of the Talus

The talus is the uppermost bone in the foot that is completely covered with cartilage to allow for smooth movement of the ankle joint. When the ankle joint is injured, the cartilage may be damaged, leading to an osteochondral lesion. Symptoms tend to develop gradually and include:

Treatment for osteochondral lesions usually begins with conservative methods including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, immobilization, physical therapy and ankle bracing. If these methods fail to relieve the symptoms, surgery may be needed. Surgery involves removing the loose cartilage or bone within the joint usually through an ankle arthroscopy.