Technique Article: Tarsal Coalition Resection Using Kirschner Wires Across the Subtalar Joint in a Two-Incision Approach

[Effectiveness of a modified posterior approach for arthroscopic resection on painful talocalcaneal coalition in adults]

Objective

To investigate the effectiveness of arthroscopic talocalcaneal coalition resection in painful adults via a modified posterior approach.

Methods

Between January 2015 and December 2017, 9 patients with painful talocalcaneal coalition accepted arthroscopic resection via the posterior malleolus high lateral observation approach combined with the lower medial operation approach. Of them, 6 were male and 3 were female, aged from 19 to 30 years (mean, 24 years). Among them, 2 cases had no definite local trauma and 7 cases had a history of sprain of foot and ankle. The disease duration ranged from 6 to 30 months, with a median of 12 months. Rozansky classification of talocalcaneal coalition for the 9 patients: 5 cases (5 feet) were type Ⅰ, 2 cases (2 feet) type Ⅱ, and 2 cases (2 feet) type Ⅲ. The patients had no sequelae of limb dysfunction and no limb joint surgery in the past. All the patients received anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films and CT scans of the ankle joint during follow-up. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hind foot score were used to evaluate the effectiveness.

Results

The operation time was 60-90 minutes (mean, 76 minutes). All patients were followed up 12-24 months (mean, 18 months). All the incisions healed by first intention, without infection, skin necrosis, lower extremity deep vein thrombosis, vascular nerve and tendon injury, bone bridge recurrence, and other complications. The ankle function recovered well and the pain was relieved obviously after operation, and the patients returned to work at 3-5 months after operation, with an average of 3.9 months. At last follow-up, the VAS score was 0.7±0.5, which was significantly improved ( t=20.239, P=0.000) when compared with preoperative score (4.2±0.5); the AOFAS ankle-hind foot score was 94±4, which was significantly improved ( t=-27.424, P=0.000) when compared with preoperative score (62±2). According to AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scoring system, the results were excellent in 7 cases and good in 2 cases at last follow-up.

Conclusion

It is more intuitive, more space, and more flexibility for operation via the modified posterior malleolus high lateral observation approach combined with the lower medial operation approach in talocalcaneal coalition. It is feasible to remove talocalcaneal coalition programmatically according to the specific anatomic signs during the operation.