Tarsal coalition in the Turkish population: an MRI study

Abstract

Objectives: Tarsal coalition describes a complete or partial union of two or more tarsal bones. We aimed to determine the anatomical features of tarsal coalition in patients undergoing ankle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to report tarsal coalition prevalence in the Turkish population. Methods: A total of 1075 ankle MRI were evaluated and patients with tarsal coalition were included to the study. Statistical analyses were performed to check whether there is a correlation between the presence of the tarsal coalition and age, gender and side (right/left) and to identify the talar beak sign accompanying the coalition and the presence of edema or cyst in the bones. Results: We detected tarsal coalition in 18 patients (a total of 21 ankles) (1.68%). Out of these, seven were females (1.32%) and eleven were males (2.04%). The mean age was 37.22±14.23 years. Three (0.28%) patients had bilateral coalition. Eight patients (0.56%) had tarsal coalition on the right ankle and 13 patients (1.12%) had on the left. We detected osseous talocalcaneal coalition in 3 patients, non-osseous talocalcaneal coalition in 6 patients, non-osseous calcaneonavicular coalition in 10 patients and non-osseous cuboid navicular coalition in 2 patients. Talar beak was found in 11 (52.38%) patients, edema or cysts in the bones forming the coalition were found in 11 (52.38%) patients. Conclusion: The prevalence of the tarsal coalition was determined to be 1.68 % in a Turkish population and was more common among men. Calcaneonavicular coalition followed by talocalcaneal coalition are the most common types.