Conservative Outcomes of Subtalar Dislocation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Current Literature

Background

Subtalar dislocation is a rare injury accounting for 1%-2% of all dislocations. Although prompt closed reduction is the accepted initial treatment, optimal conservative management protocols remain unclear, and no prior systematic review has synthesised outcomes of purely conservatively managed cases across both medial and lateral dislocations. This review aims to systematically assess the rates of post-traumatic osteoarthritis, functional outcomes, subtalar stiffness, avascular necrosis, and need for subsequent surgery following conservative management of acute isolated subtalar dislocations.