Tarsal Coalition Workup

  • Author: Louis P Vu, MD; Chief Editor: Jason H Calhoun, MD, FACS   more...
 
Updated: Feb 9, 2010
 

Imaging Studies

  • Plain anteroposterior (AP) and lateral radiographs of the foot are usually not diagnostic but may be suggestive of tarsal coalitions. Classic secondary signs of tarsal coalition are mainly seen in the lateral view. These include talar beaking seen on the anterior talar side of the talonavicular junction, broadening and rounding or flattening of the lateral talar process, and narrowing of the posterior facet. The last 2 are signs of degenerative changes. Any rotation of the foot may result in the appearance of a tarsal pseudocoalition on the lateral view secondary to off-plane view of the subtalar joint facets.
  • Some have suggested that the C-sign of Lateur, a C-shaped line composed of the dome of the talus and the inferior outline of the sustentaculum tali, is pathognomonic for subtalar coalition.[25] A study by Sakellariou et al examined lateral radiographs of 20 patients with clinical and radiographic diagnosis of talocalcaneal coalition and compared them to 22 asymptomatic volunteers.[26] CT scans were used as the diagnostic standard. They concluded that the C-sign was highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis. However, in a retrospective review of 48 patients who had lateral ankle radiographs and CT scans for nontraumatic indications, Brown et al found that the C-sign was specific but not sensitive for a flatfoot deformity and was neither specific nor sensitive for talocalcaneal coalition.[27]
  • Calcaneonavicular coalition may be suggested by the presence of the anteater-nose sign on the lateral view corresponding to an elongated anterior calcaneal process.[28] This radiographic sign may be found on the lateral radiograph of patients aged 9 years or older with tarsal coalition. Oblique 45º views of the foot demonstrate a calcaneonavicular coalition 90-100% of the time. Only approximately 10% of the cases demonstrate a frank osseous coalition, with the remainder demonstrating increased proximity of the 2 tarsals, indistinct juxtaposed cortices, hypoplasia of the head of the talus, and flattening or narrowing of the navicular as it approaches the anterior calcaneus process.
  • A talocalcaneal coalition is best seen with the Harris-Beath axial or "ski-jump" view. This is taken with the patient standing on the cassette, bending 10º at the ankle. Harris and Beath recommended a 45º beam view originally, but they later expanded their views to beam angles of 30º, 35º, and 45º. Cowell recommended first taking the 45º beam view and then, if the middle and posterior facets are not well visualized, using a standing lateral view to measure the appropriate angle for the axial view.[29] In cases in which the middle and posterior facets are not parallel, 2 different angles would have to be measured and 2 corresponding axial views taken. If a middle facet coalition is present, the coalition is seen on the medial side. If the coalition is osseous, no joint is visualized. If it is fibrous or cartilaginous, the joint appears irregular and angled inferior medial. In normal feet, the middle facet is usually parallel to the posterior facet on axial views.
  • In the past, tomograms have been necessary to demonstrate anterior facet coalitions and to confirm the presence of more difficult middle or posterior facet coalitions. Since the mid-1980s, however, coronal CT scans have become the criterion standard in the evaluation of tarsal coalitions.[4] In 1986, Herzenberg et al correlated the use of the coronal CT views to evaluate tarsal coalitions to cadaver specimens. In their study, the patient's feet were placed in a plantar position on the gantry with the CT ring in the neutral position.[12] Other studies have used a special apparatus to dorsiflex the foot and rotate the ring to maintain a coronal axis of the subtalar joint. The advent of high-speed spiral CT scanners and advanced image reconstruction software has prompted some to accept coronal reconstructions of noncoronal CT views, but no study has demonstrated equal diagnostic ability.
  • MRIs have been advanced as another tool to evaluate cases of fibrous or cartilaginous coalitions that may not be well seen in CT scans, but no good study has been performed demonstrating significant diagnostic utility over CT scans. Although MRI has been found to be very good at detecting tarsal coalition, CT scanning is still considered to be the criterion standard and to be more cost-effective than MRI.[30]
  • Bone scintigraphy has been advanced as a way to confirm suspected coalitions that are not well seen in plain radiographs or as a screening tool. However, the decreasing expense of CT scans and CT scans' ability to depict detail has reduced the utility of scintigraphs.
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Histologic Findings

The tissue of a tarsal coalition may be osseous, cartilaginous, or fibrous. Histopathologic analysis of resected nonosseous coalitions has revealed no evidence of neural elements. This absence of nerve tissue argues against the abnormal coalition tissue acting as a primary pain generator. Microfractures and histologic signs of bone remodeling near a coalition's boundary with normal bone have been identified and are likely pain generators via periosteal nerve fibers.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Louis P Vu, MD  Orthopedic Surgeon, Private Practice

Louis P Vu, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Charles T Mehlman, DO, MPH  Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, Division of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, Director, Musculoskeletal Outcomes Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Charles T Mehlman, DO, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Fracture Association, American Medical Association, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, American Osteopathic Association, Arthroscopy Association of North America, North American Spine Society, Ohio State Medical Association, Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, and Scoliosis Research Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

James K DeOrio, MD  Director of Foot and Ankle Fellowship Program, Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, St Lukes Hospital, Jacksonville, Florida

James K DeOrio, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, Florida Medical Association, and German Society of Neurology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Shepard R Hurwitz, MD  Executive Director, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Shepard R Hurwitz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Rheumatology, American College of Sports Medicine, American College of Surgeons, American Diabetes Association, American Orthopaedic Association, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, Eastern Orthopaedic Association, Orthopaedic Research Society, Orthopaedic Trauma Association, and Southern Orthopaedic Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Dinesh Patel, MD, FACS  Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Chief of Arthroscopic Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital

Dinesh Patel, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Jason H Calhoun, MD, FACS  Frank J Kloenne Chair in Orthopedic Surgery, Professor and Chair, Department of Orthopedics, The Ohio State University Medical Center

Jason H Calhoun, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, American Diabetes Association, American Medical Association, American Orthopaedic Association, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, Missouri State Medical Association, Musculoskeletal Infection Society, Southern Medical Association, Southern Orthopaedic Association, Texas Medical Association, and Texas Orthopaedic Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Plain radiograph (Slomann view) showing typical appearance of calcaneonavicular coalition.
CT scan appearance of talocalcaneal coalition.
 
 
 
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