Pathologic anatomic variations in subtalar anatomy

Thirteen patients presenting with symptomatic pathologic variations or congenital deformities of the subtalar joint are presented. These variations included: four abnormal posterior talar processes, five patients with asymmetric subtalar joint development, and four congenital complete subtalar coalitions with a secondary ball-and-socket joint. In each case these adult patients had been unaware of the variation and had been symptom free until "awakening" sprain or fracture trauma brought about symptoms. The nonoperative and operative management of these variations is reviewed.