Talocalcaneal coalition including open comminuted calcaneal fracture; a case report and literature review

ABSTRACT

Tarsal coalition is an often unrecognised cause of foot and ankle pain and represents a congenital osseous, cartilaginous or fibrous connection between two or more tarsal bones. Fractures in combination with tarsal coalitions are rarely described in the literature. We report the case of a 43-year-old male patient with a talocalcaneal coalition who sustained an open comminuted calcaneal fracture and a closed transverse cuboid fracture. Due to the asymptomatic tarsal coalition and the already firmly fixed subtalar joint, the patient was treated with open reduction and internal fixation [ORIF] with satisfactory outcomes instead of ORIF in combination with subtalar arthrodesis. Ten months after the trauma, the patient was satisfactory and could return to his regular work. There is currently no evidence for the gold standard treatment of calcaneal fractures with combined tarsal coalitions. Due to the satisfactory results of this case, authors conclude that in case with prior asymptomatic coalitions, singular ORIF without subtalar arthrodesis may be performed