ISOLATED SUBTALAR JOINT ARTHRODESIS: Indications, Evaluation, and Surgical Technique

Isolated subtalar joint (STJ) fusions are performed routinely by many foot and ankle surgeons for various hindfoot pathologies, but were historically avoided due to their potential complications on the adjacent joints (1). Since the inception of this isolated arthrodesis, multiple studies have been undertaken to demonstrate the effects on the surrounding joints. Jouveniaux et al concluded with their retrospective study of 37 isolated fusions that radiographic changes suggesting arthritis in the adjacent joints were common, but were moderate and asymptomatic in the majority of cases (2). Additionally, this technique is preferred instead of a triple arthrodesis in cases where the calcanealcuboid joint and talo-navicular joints are intact without arthritic changes. This preserves the overall function of the hindfoot with the perceived joint stiffness that the triple arthrodesis offers (3,4).