Tibio-calcaneo-naviculo-cuboidale arthrodesis: 6 patients followed for 1-8 years

As a salvage procedure for patients with irreparable damage to the peritalar anatomy, we used a new method, the Ilizarov ring fixator, to stabilize a tibio-calcaneo-naviculo-cuboideal (TCNC) arthrodesis after resecting the talus in 6 patients with an average follow-up of 3 years. The tibia was lengthened by callus distraction, mean 6 (3.5-10) cm. Patients with exacerbation of a chronic talar osteomyelitis, symptomatic posttraumatic changes, and those with extremely unstable club feet and talar deformity preventing an adequate reduction of the joint, were successfully treated with the TCNC-fusion. The method permits early weight bearing, while providing stability and compression of the fusion, thereby avoiding further loss of bone stock.