Treatment of symptomatic talocalcaneal coalition

Abstract

The cases of fourteen patients who had twenty-three symptomatic talocalcaneal coalitions were reviewed at a mean of 3.9 years (range, 2.2 to 9.5 years) after treatment. Five feet in three patients became completely asymptomatic after immobilization in a cast, and four feet underwent triple arthrodesis. Fourteen feet had resection of the coalition when the symptoms were not relieved by immobilization in a cast. The indications for resection of a talocalcaneal coalition include failure of non-operative treatment, a coalition that is less than one-half of the surface area of the talocalcaneal joint, and the absence of degenerative arthritic changes in the talonavicular joint. Good results were noted in thirteen feet and satisfactory results, in ten, for all forms of treatment.