Midfoot arthrodesis.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Foot and Ankle Reconstruction
• Arthritis Management

Background:

• Midfoot arthritis presents significant surgical challenges, particularly when associated with foot deformities.
• Complex deformities require comprehensive surgical strategies beyond simple arthrodesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of arthrodesis for midfoot arthritis with concurrent deformity correction.
• To assess fusion rates, complication incidence, and patient-reported outcomes in this challenging patient group.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 30 patients (30 feet) with symptomatic midfoot arthritis and deformities.
• Surgical intervention included arthrodesis with adjuvant procedures for hindfoot and forefoot realignment as necessary.

Main Results:

• Achieved a high union rate of 93.3% (28/30 patients) with a mean time to union of 12.9 weeks.
• Postoperative complications occurred in 16.6% of patients, and 20% required unplanned surgical procedures.
• Patient-reported outcomes were predominantly positive, with 47% rating results as excellent and 43% as good.

Conclusions:

• Arthrodesis with corrective procedures is effective for midfoot arthritis and deformity, yielding high fusion and satisfactory patient outcomes.
• Despite successful fusion, residual adjacent joint pain, need for orthotics, and potential for revision surgery should be considered in patient counseling.