[Long-term results of Grice subtalar arthrodesis in children]

Talipes valgus, mostly resulted from poliomyelitis, of 44 feet in 43 children, aged 4 to 12 years, were treated by Grice extra-articular arthrodesis of the subtalar joint, and on 36 of them tendon transfer was done as well at the same time. The result in all of them, after a period of 15.3 years (ranging 5 to 23 yrs.), was found satisfactory in 32 feet (72.7%), and unsatisfactory in 12 (27.3%). Eight of the latter were found to be due to secondary varus deformity, a consequence of imbalance of muscle power following medial transfer of peroneal tendon (s). It is emphasized that in correcting foot deformity, slight valgus is receptible while over correction (varus) must be avoided. It is also found that after subtalar stabilization, traumatic osteoarthritis of midtarsal and ankle joints developed more frequently in patients who had better limb function than in those whose limbs had functioned much less.