Rehabilitation and Implementation of a Continuum for Return to Sport in an Amateur Basketball Player With Subtalar Dislocation: A Case Report.

Abstract

Context: Subtalar dislocation is a rare but severe condition that usually requires emergency attention and could be associated with secondary injuries. Most of the research about this injury is case reports focused on the medical management, so there are no guidelines for rehabilitation and return to sport (RTS). This case report describes the rehabilitation and RTS in an amateur basketball player with an isolated medial subtalar dislocation on his right foot.

Case presentation: A 20-year-old amateur basketball player suffered a forced foot inversion after landing on an opponent's foot. The patient was taken to the emergency department for a closed reduction under anesthesia, followed by 2 weeks in a cast and 3 weeks in a walker boot.

Management and outcomes: Rehabilitation started after the immobilization period with the main objective of returning to the same level of competition. It was organized through a 4 phase continuum with a stepwise approach. After 16 weeks since injury, the patient returned to team training.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report to inform on rehabilitation and RTS of medial subtalar dislocation. The 4 phases continuum model could be useful for clinicians for safe progression in this rare condition.