Your hands and feet are made up of dozens of little bones that all work together to allow you to perform everyday activities. If just one of these bones is injured or damaged, regular tasks can become very difficult. One of the most important bones in your feet is the talus bone. It isn’t large, but it plays a large role in allowing you to walk and move.
What Is the Talus Bone?
Your talus bone, also called the astragalus bone, is a saddle-shaped bone in your ankle. It makes up part of your talocrural (ankle) joint, along with your tibia and fibula. Your tibia and fibula are the bones of your shin and calf.
The talus bone is small, only about two inches long in the case of adults. It doesn’t connect to any muscles.
There are three talus bone parts: the talus head, the talus body, and the talus neck.
Talus head. The talus head is the lower portion of the talus bone. A joint called the subtalar joint joins it together with the navicular bone. The navicular bone is a small bone on the top of your foot.
Talus body. The talus body is the curved part of the talus that forms the ankle joint with the tibia, the shin bone, and fibula, the calf bone.
Talus neck. The talus neck is the segment that connects the talus head and the talus body together. It curves downward toward the inside of your foot.
Where Is the Talus Bone Located?
The talus bone is in your ankle and foot. It sits at the top of the foot where the foot and ankle come together. The talus bone is positioned underneath the base of the tibia and beside the base of the fibula. Beneath your talus bone is your calcaneus (heel) bone.
What Does the Talus Bone Do?
The talus bone is an important foot bone that has several important jobs, including:
- Creating part of the ankle joint
- Helping you keep your balance
- Moving your foot up and down
- Stabilizing your foot’s arch
- Supporting the ligaments of your ankle, foot, and heel
- Supporting the weight of your leg
Talus Bone Conditions and Disorders
The conditions that most often affect the talus bone are fractures and osteoporosis.
Talus bone fractures. Fractured or broken bones are often the result of trauma. This trauma may include things like athletic injuries, falls, or car accidents. Talus bone injury and fractures may result in:
- Bruising and discoloration
- Bumps or deformities
- Difficulty walking
- Pain
- Swelling
- Tenderness
If you suspect a fracture or injury to your foot, go to the emergency room to prevent further damage.
To determine if there’s been damage to the talus, your doctor may order an imaging test. Such tests may include:
- CT scans. Computed tomography scans, or CT scans, are detailed images produced with x-ray and computer technology.
- MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is an imaging technique that uses computer-generated radio waves and a magnetic field to produce detailed images.
- X-rays. X-ray machines use radio waves to produce images of the structures inside of your body, especially bones.
In the event of a talus fracture, your doctor will immobilize it using a splint or a cast. A cast is a device that prevents the broken bone from moving and stabilizes the area around the broken bone. A splint is similar to a cast but is adjustable, able to accommodate swelling around the broken bone. In some cases, a broken talus bone may require surgery.
Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition that causes your bones to weaken and become brittle. This happens because your bones are not able to replace bone tissue as fast as they lose it. Osteoporosis may lead to frequent fractures.
Common symptoms of osteoporosis include:
- Easily broken bones
- Back pain
- Loss of height over time
- Stooped posture
Osteoporosis can affect anyone, but Asian and white post-menopausal women are most commonly affected. Things that can have an impact on your likelihood of osteoporosis occurring include:
- Age
- Sex
- Ethnic background
- A small body frame
- A family history of osteoporosis
- Low levels of estrogen in women and testosterone in men
- Overactive thyroid, parathyroid, or adrenal glands
- Insufficient calcium intake
- Eating disorders
- Weight loss surgery
- Steroids
- Certain medications, such as those used to treat cancer, gastric reflux, seizures, and to prevent transplant rejection
- Cancer
- Celiac disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBS)
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Multiple myeloma
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Excessive use of alcohol and tobacco products
Some factors, such as age and race, cannot be changed. Other factors (like lifestyle) can be adjusted to help you avoid or alleviate osteoporosis.
To check your bone density, your doctor may order a bone density test. These are sometimes called bone densitometry tests, or DXA. This test scans the mineral content of your bones to determine bone loss.
Aside from trauma and osteoporosis, other conditions that can affect your talus bone include:
- Arthritis in the foot and ankle. Arthritis is a general term for joint inflammation, which may cause pain, and stiffness and make it difficult to walk.
- Avascular necrosis. Avascular necrosis, also called osteonecrosis, happens when something cuts off blood flow to one of your bones. It usually occurs due to injury or a medical condition.
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome. Tarsal tunnel syndrome happens when your tibial nerve has been damaged or pinched in some way. Tarsal tunnel syndrome can be caused by a medical condition or trauma and may result in burning, tingling, numbness, and weakness in your feet.
To keep your talus bones healthy, try to maintain good health with a diet and exercise plan. You can keep your feet protected by keeping your floors clear of tripping hazards, wearing supportive shoes, and wearing proper gear when engaging in activities such as sports.