Avascular necrosis was a frequent complication of the fracture of the neck of the talus. Hawkins described a subchondral radiolucency visible in the body of the talus six to eight weeks after fracture.

This sign has proved to be a useful objective prognostic sign; the presence of this sign would not undergo avscular necrosis.

In eleven patients, serial roetgenograms were examined for this phenomenon. The results were as follows:

1. Six fractures that had the Hawkins sign did not undergo avascular necrosis.

2. Also, we experienced two cases of partial Hawkins sign which developed the partial avascular necrosis.