Astragalectomy, sometimes called a talectomy is a surgical

Surgery

Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...

 operation for removal of the talus bone

Talus bone

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 (astragalus) for stabilization of the ankle

Ankle

The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...

.

Historically, an astragalectomy was used in cases of severe ankle trauma and congenial talipes equinovarus (clubfoot). Presently, it is not a common operation, however it still used in cases of a deformed calcaneus, foot paralysis

Paralysis

Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...

 following poliomyelitis

Poliomyelitis

Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute viral infectious disease spread from person to person, primarily via the fecal-oral route...

, and also rigid clubfoot deformities that are secondary to spina bifida

Spina bifida

Spina bifida is a developmental congenital disorder caused by the incomplete closing of the embryonic neural tube. Some vertebrae overlying the spinal cord are not fully formed and remain unfused and open. If the opening is large enough, this allows a portion of the spinal cord to protrude through...

 or arthrogryposis

Arthrogryposis

Arthrogryposis, also known as Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, is a rare congenital disorder that is characterized by multiple joint contractures and can include muscle weakness and fibrosis. It is a non-progressive disease...

 (AMC). The surgery is also performed in severe cases of pulverized or infected open fractures.

Generally, the surgical procedure involves making an anterolateral incision, stripping the ligaments from both malleoli

Malleolus

Each leg is supported by two bones, the tibia on the inner side of the leg and the fibula on the outer side of the leg.The medial malleolus is the prominence on the inner side of the ankle, formed by the lower end of the tibia....

 and the calcaneus so that the foot can be displaced posteriorly. The talus is then resected, and the foot is placed so that the lateral malleolus rests opposite the calcaneocuboid joint, and the medial malleolus lies just above and behind the navicular bone

Navicular bone

The navicular bone is a small bone found in the feet of both humans and horses.- Human anatomy :The navicular bone is one of the tarsal bones, found in the foot. Its name derives from the bone's resemblance to a small boat, caused by the strongly concave proximal articular surface...

. The foot is held in place with a surgical pin or with Kirschner wire

Kirschner wire

Kirschner wires or K-wires or pins are sterilized, sharpened, smooth stainless steel pins. Introduced in 1909 by Martin Kirschner, the wires are now widely used in orthopaedics and other types of medical and veterinary surgery. They come in different sizes and are used to hold bone fragments...

. After the operation, the patient wears an above-knee cast for six weeks, followed by a below-knee cast for eighteen weeks.