Characteristics and reoperation rates of paediatric tarsal coalitions: A population-based study

Abstract

Purpose Tarsal coalitions are congenital fusions of two or more tarsal bones and can lead to foot pain and stiffness. Few studies examine the long-term reoperation rates following paediatric tarsal coalition surgery. Methods A population-based database, linking medical records at all medical centres to capture the entire medical history of the full population of a Midwest county, was used to identify tarsal coalitions in children between 1966 and 2018. Records were reviewed for clinical data, surgical records and followed up to identify any subsequent surgical interventions. Results A total of 58 patients (85 coalitions) were identified; 46 calcaneonavicular (CN) coalitions, 30 talocalcaneal (TC) coalitions and nine other coalitions (seven talonavicular, one naviculocuboid, one naviculocuneiform). In all, 46 coalitions were treated surgically (43 coalition resections, three arthro-deses) and 39 were treated nonoperatively. Patients treated surgically were less likely to report ongoing symptoms at final follow-up compared with patients managed nonoper-atively (33% versus 67%; p = 0.0017). With a median 14.4 years (interquartile range 9.3 to 19.7) follow-up, there was an overall re-operation rate of 8.7% (4/46). Differences in re-operation rates by initial surgery (resection versus arthrode-sis; p = 0.2936), coalition type (CN versus TC versus Other; p = 0.6487) or composition (osseous versus fibrocartilagi-nous; p = 0.29) did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion This is the first population-based study demon-strating the durability of surgical management of tarsal coalitions in a paediatric population. At final follow-up, patients treated surgically are less likely to report persistent symptoms compared with patients managed nonoperatively. Long-term reoperation rates appear to be low (8.7%). Level of evidence: III.