Translated article] Tarsal coalitions as a cause of pain in the foot of children: Therapeutic options

Abstract

Background and objectiveThe tarsal coalition can be a cause of mid-hindfoot pain in older children. The objective is to analyse the types of coalition treated in our hospital from 2010 to 2019 as well as the treatment carried out. Material and methodObservational, descriptive and retrospective study of 18 patients with tarsal coalition, 8 women and 10 men, aged 11.9±2.6 years. Epidemiological data, clinical findings and imaging tests, and treatment performed were collected. ResultsTwenty-five feet (38.8% bilateral) were reviewed. The main symptom was pain. Sixty-four percent were associated with flat-valgus foot. Fifty-two percent were located in the calcaneal-scaphoid joint, and 40% in the calcaneal-talar joint. Treatment was conservative in 44.4% of cases and surgical in 56% (coalition resection). There was only one case of recurrence. The results were mostly excellent or good (88%) after a mean follow-up period of 4 years. ConclusionsThe most frequently diagnosed type of tarsal coalition was that located in the calcaneal-scaphoid joint followed by the calcaneal-talar joint, but they can appear in any joint of the foot. Almost half responded well to conservative treatment with mostly good results, but the rest required surgical treatment due to persistence of the symptoms, the results of which were excellent in all cases except one who suffered a recurrence. In cases of calcaneal-talar coalitions associated with severe hindfoot valgus, correction of this deformity, associated or not with resection of the coalition, is recommended.