Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Talus

The talus is the ankle bone that meets the lower leg and foot bones to help transfer load during walking. Osteochondritis dissecans can affect the bone beneath its smooth cartilage surface. The area may weaken, and the cartilage can become irregular or unstable.

Symptoms are often felt deep in the ankle and may worsen with walking, running, jumping, or uneven ground. Swelling and restricted movement can develop. A loose fragment may cause catching or a blocked feeling. Although the linked symptom page is titled Knee Locking, a blocked ankle still needs assessment because symptoms can overlap with sprains, impingement, and other joint problems.

An orthopaedic clinician may examine ankle motion, tenderness, walking, and stability, then choose imaging to evaluate the talus, cartilage, and lesion stability. Until reviewed, reduce activities that increase ankle pain and avoid repeatedly testing a catching sensation.

Stable lesions may be managed with protected activity and guided physiotherapy aimed at restoring motion, strength, balance, and walking control. If cartilage is damaged or a fragment is unstable, cartilage repair surgery may be discussed. The plan depends on lesion features, symptoms, and response to initial care.

Arrange review for persistent deep ankle pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced walking tolerance, particularly after an ankle injury. Seek urgent assessment if the ankle is visibly deformed, you cannot bear weight, pain escalates suddenly, or the joint becomes mechanically stuck.

Ask where the lesion sits on the talus, whether the cartilage is stable, which weight-bearing activities are suitable, how physiotherapy will progress, and what findings would support cartilage repair surgery.