[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Anatomy](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/) › [Lower limb](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/lower-limb/) › Talar cartilage [Skeletal system](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/system/skeletal-system/) · [Lower limb](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/lower-limb/) # Talar cartilage The talar cartilage is the smooth layer covering the joint surfaces of the ankle bone ([talus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/talus/)), so the ankle glides. Official name: Articular cartilage of talus [See in 3D →](https://durgical.app/?from=durgipedia&lang=en#region=lower_limb&select=cartilage_talus&side=r) Opens in the Durgical app, no sign-up needed. ## What it is Articular cartilage: a smooth, slippery layer covering the faces of the talus where it meets the [tibia](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/tibia/), the fibula and the heel bone. ## What it does Lets the ankle glide with very little friction and spreads the body's weight across the bone. ## Key points - Classic pattern of osteochondral lesions: lateral dome lesions are shallow, wafer-like and usually follow trauma; medial ones are deeper, cup-shaped and less often linked to an injury - Ankle cartilage is thinner than the knee's but resists degeneration better; ankle osteoarthritis is mostly post-traumatic - Berndt and Harty stages: compression (I), partly detached (II), detached but in place (III), displaced fragment (IV) ## Key facts **Where** Trochlea (dome) and malleolar facets of talus; also subtalar and talonavicular surfaces (about 60% of talus covered) **Function** Hyaline articular cartilage; low-friction gliding; spreads load; avascular, nourished by synovial fluid ## Relations **Above** [Tibial plafond cartilage](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/articular-cartilage-of-tibial-plafond/) **Medial** Articular facet of the medial malleolus **Lateral** Articular facet of the lateral malleolus of the [fibula](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/fibula/) **Below** Posterior, middle and anterior calcaneal facets of the subtalar joint **In front** Head facet for the [navicular](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/navicular-bone/) **Deep** Subchondral bone with a limited blood supply ## How to find it The front of the dome is partly felt in front of the ankle with the foot fully plantarflexed. Anterolateral lesions lie near this area; posteromedial ones are reached in surgery through a posterior approach or an osteotomy of the medial malleolus. ## On imaging The mortise view may show a lucency or a flake on the dome, but many lesions are missed on X-ray. MRI shows bone oedema and whether the fragment is stable; CT shows its size and bony depth for planning. ## Common problems - Osteochondral lesions: a damaged patch of cartilage and the bone under it, often after an ankle sprain or fracture. - Ankle arthritis, often years after an injury. - Symptoms: deep ankle pain, swelling, catching or stiffness. ## How it is diagnosed Symptoms and exam; X-rays; MRI or CT show the size and depth of a lesion. ## Treatment - Rest, a boot and physical therapy, especially for small or stable lesions. - Surgery for focal lesions: cleaning the area and making small holes in the bone to start healing (microfracture), or cartilage repair and grafting with bone and cartilage from the patient or a donor (osteochondral graft). - Advanced arthritis: ankle fusion or ankle replacement. ## Clinical notes - Small stable lesions are often treated by bone marrow stimulation; larger ones by osteochondral grafts - Subtalar cartilage damage after a calcaneal fracture leads to subtalar arthritis ## Development Like other joint surfaces it is hyaline cartilage kept from the embryonic cartilage model of the talus; in adolescents, osteochondritis dissecans of the talar dome is one cause of defects in this layer. ## Related conditions - [Ankle fracture](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/ankle-fracture/) ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## How do lateral and medial talar dome osteochondral lesions classically differ? Lateral: shallow, wafer-like, usually post-traumatic; medial: deeper, cup-shaped, less often linked to injury. ## What is the most common cause of ankle osteoarthritis? Previous trauma; ankle cartilage resists degeneration better than the knee's, so ankle osteoarthritis is mostly post-traumatic. ## Which imaging best shows whether a talar dome osteochondral fragment is stable? MRI, which shows bone oedema and fragment stability; many lesions are missed on X-ray. [Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/anatomy/articular-cartilage-of-talus/) Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional. ## Its names **Official Latin (TA2)** cartilago articularis TA2 382 **Official Spanish (DeCS)** Cartílago articular del astrágalo (tróclea) DeCS D002358 **English (TA2)** Articular cartilage of talus ## Related - [Talus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/talus/) - [Tibial plafond cartilage](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/articular-cartilage-of-tibial-plafond/) Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); [DeCS](https://decs.bvsalud.org/es/ths/resource/?id=2401&filter=ths_termall&q=Cart%C3%ADlago%20Articular); [Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb: Ankle Joint](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545158/); [9.7 Development of Joints](https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/9-7-development-of-joints) (OpenStax (Rice University), 2022) · adapted, [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/articular-cartilage-of-talus/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/articular-cartilage-of-talus/