ISOLATED TALOCALCANEAL INTERPOSITION FUSION - A PROSPECTIVE FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

This is a prospective clinical and radiological study of the treatment of talocalcaneal deformity or degeneration by a modified technique of isolated talocalcaneal fusion. Thirty-six patients were evaluated wit h clinical examination, plain dorsoplantar and oblique radiographs, an d computed tomography scanning or magnetic resonance imaging in a foll ow-up of 32.5 months (range, 20-62 months). Indications for arthrodesi s were posterior tibial tendon rupture with secondary osteoarthritis ( 12 cases) and secondary posttraumatic osteoarthritis (24 cases). On a visual analog pain scale, the patients graded their pain at 4.4 before surgery and at 1.1 after surgery. The subjective results were 33% com plete satisfaction, 28% satisfaction with minor reservation, 31% satis faction with major reservation, and 9% dissatisfaction. The overall ob jective results were excellent in 47%, good in 31%, fair in 17%, and p oor in 6% of cases. A further advantage of this type of talocalcaneal fusion is a large remaining range of motion in the neighboring joints, at the ankle (in 76% the same or better ROM than before surgery), and at Chopart's joint (in 69% the same or better ROM than before surgery ). The fusion rate was high (95%).