Talus Bone

What is the talus bone?

The talus bone is a small bone in your ankle. It’s sometimes called the astragalus bone.

The talus is the second biggest bone in the back of your foot (your hindfoot). Only the calcaneus (heel) bone is bigger.

The talus meets your tibia (shin bone) and fibula (calf bone) to form your ankle joint.

If you experience a fractured (broken) talus, you might need surgery to repair your bone and physical therapy to help you regain your strength and ability to move.

Your talus — like all bones — can be affected by osteoporosis.

What does the talus bone do?

Your talus has several important jobs, including:

• Forming your ankle joint.
• Supporting the weight of your leg.
• Moving your foot up and down.
• Maintaining your balance by moving the back of your foot side-to-side.
• Stabilizing the arch of your foot.
• Supporting ligaments in your ankle, heel and foot.

Where is the talus located?

The talus is in your ankle, toward the back of your foot. It’s the point where the two bones in your lower leg — your tibia and fibula — meet your foot.

What does the talus look like?

The talus is shaped like a saddle. It has two flared lower ends and a domed ridge in the middle. It’s covered in a layer of cartilage that acts like a cushion, shock absorber and lubricant to help your ankle move smoothly.

Unlike lots of other bones, the talus isn’t connected to any muscles.

The talus has three parts:

• Talus head: The head joins your navicular bone at the back of your foot.
• Talus body: The curved dome — sometimes called the trochlea of the talus — meets your tibia and fibula to form your ankle joint.
• Talus neck: The neck joins the talus head and body together. It curves down and toward the inside of your foot.

These parts and labels are usually more for your healthcare provider to use as they describe where you’re having pain or issues. If you ever break your talus — a talus fracture — your provider might use some of these terms to describe where your bone was damaged.

How big is the talus?

The talus is small. Most adults’ talus bones are around 2 inches long.

What are the common conditions and disorders that affect the talus?

The most common issues that affect the talus are fractures and osteoporosis.

Talus fractures

A bone fracture is the medical term for breaking a bone. You can break your talus in a trauma like a fall or car accident. Some people also experience talus fractures playing sports. Symptoms of a fracture include:

• Pain.
• Swelling.
• Tenderness.
• Trouble walking.
• Bruising or discoloration.
• A deformity or bump that’s not usually on your body.

Go to the emergency room right away if you’ve experienced a trauma or think you have a fracture.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis weakens bones, making them more susceptible to sudden and unexpected fractures. Many people don’t know they have osteoporosis until after it causes them to break a bone. There usually aren’t obvious symptoms.

Women, people assigned female at birth and adults older than 50 have an increased risk for developing osteoporosis. Talk to your provider about a bone density screening that can catch osteoporosis before it causes a fracture.

Other common issues that can affect your talus include:

• Foot and ankle arthritis.
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome.
• Avascular necrosis (osteonecrosis).

What tests are done on the talus?

The most common test done to check the health of your bones is a bone density test. It’s sometimes called a DEXA or DXA scan. A bone density test measures how strong your bones are with low levels of X-rays. It’s a way to measure bone loss as you age.

If you’ve experienced an injury, your provider or surgeon might need imaging tests, including:

• X-rays.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
• CT scan.

What are common treatments for the talus?

Usually, your talus won’t need treatment unless you’ve experienced a fracture or other injury to your ankle. You might need treatment if you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis.

Talus fracture treatment

How your fracture is treated depends on which type it is and what caused it. You’ll need some form of immobilization — like a splint or cast — and might need surgery to realign (set) your bone to its correct position and secure it in place so it can heal.

Osteoporosis treatment

Treatments for osteoporosis can include exercise, vitamin and mineral supplements and medications.

Exercise and taking supplements are usually all you’ll need to prevent osteoporosis. Your provider will help you develop a treatment plan that’s customized for you and your bone health.

Keeping your talus healthy

Following a good diet and exercise plan and seeing your healthcare provider for regular checkups will help you maintain your bone (and overall) health. If you’re older than 50 or have a family history of osteoporosis, talk to your provider about a bone density scan.

Follow these general safety tips to reduce your risk of an injury:

• Always wear your seatbelt.
• Wear the right protective equipment for all activities and sports.
• Make sure your home and workspace are free from clutter that could trip you or others.
• Always use the proper tools or equipment at home to reach things. Never stand on chairs, tables or countertops.
• Follow a diet and exercise plan that will help you maintain good bone health.
• Use your cane or walker if you have difficulty walking or have an increased risk for falls.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

The talus is a small bone that plays a big role in your ability to walk, stand and move. It can take longer to heal and has a higher risk of complications than other bones, so visit your provider as soon as you notice any pain or other symptoms in your ankle. Go to the emergency room right away if you’ve experienced a trauma.

Talk to your provider about your osteoporosis risk, and ask them about ways you can support your bones as you age.