Surgical treatment of tarsal coalitions in children and adolescents

A tarsal coalition is an abnormal connection between two or more tarsal bones caused by failure of mesenchymal segmentation. The two most common tarsal coalitions are calcaneonavicular coalition (CNC) and talocalcaneal coalition (TCC). Both CNC and TCC can be associated with significant foot and ankle pain and impaired quality of life; there may also be concomitant foot and ankle deformity. Initial, non-operative management for symptomatic tarsal coalition commonly fails, leaving surgical intervention as the only recourse. The focus of this article is to critically describe the variety of methods used to surgically manage CNC and TCC. In review of the pertinent literature we highlight the ongoing treatment controversies in this field and discuss new innovations. The evidence-based algorithmic approach used by the authors in the management of tarsal coalitions is illustrated alongside some clinical pearls that should help surgeons treating this common, and at times complex, condition.