Excision of symptomatic coalition of the middle facet of the talocalcaneal joint.

Abstract

From 1977 through 1984, nine patients who had ten persistently symptomatic coalitions of the middle facet of the talocalcaneal joint were treated with excision of the coalition and an autogenous free fat graft. Evaluation revealed five excellent, three good, one fair, and one poor result, with an average length of follow-up of forty-two months after surgery. The patient (one foot) with the fair result initially had a poor result until revision, at which time incomplete resection was documented. The patient (one foot) with the poor result initially had a fair result, but it deteriorated forty months postoperatively. Incomplete resection at the time of the initial operation was documented at the time of the second operation. Functional testing of these patients revealed results that were comparable with the results that have been reported after resection of calcaneonavicular coalition. [corrected]