TARSAL TUNNEL-SYNDROME CAUSED BY COALITION ASSOCIATED WITH A GANGLION

We examined seven patients with tarsal tunnel syndrome in one foot cau sed by talocalcaneal coalition and a ganglion. We excised the coalitio n and the ganglion in six of them. All the patients had pain, sensory disturbance in the sole, and a positive Tinel's sign. Older patients w ith a long history showed atrophy and weakness of the plantar muscles. Talocalcaneal coalition can be diagnosed on a plain lateral radiograp h and an anteroposterior radiograph externally rotated 20 degrees, and confirmed by CT. MRI is also useful for diagnosis. The coalitions wer e medial, and the ganglion had developed from the incomplete part of t he coalition; it was multilocular in some patients. After resection, t here was early pain relief but sensory disturbances and Tinel's sign p ersisted. The postoperative results were excellent in one patient, goo d in four and fair in one.