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Insight Horizon Media

What is subtalar arthrodesis surgery?

Author

Mia Smith

Published Mar 04, 2026

What is subtalar arthrodesis surgery?

Subtalar arthrodesis entails surgical fusion of the posterior aspect of the subtalar joint to alleviate pain in patients with conditions such as post-traumatic arthritis after calcaneal fractures or adult-acquired flatfoot deformity due to posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, as well as other disorders.

What is STJ arthrodesis?

Subtalar arthrodesis is the surgical fusion of bones that form the subtalar joint. The subtalar joint is a complex joint located below the ankle joint and is formed by the union of the heel (calcaneus) and the talus (ankle) bone. The subtalar joint allows side-side movement of the foot.

What is a Pantalar Fusion?

Pantalar arthrodesis refers to surgical fusion of the ankle, subtalar, talonavicu- lar, and commonly the calcaneocuboid joints. Originally reported by Lorthior [1] in 1911, this procedure was used to correct the deformed equinovarus foot.

What is a triple arthrodesis of foot?

A triple arthrodesis is a procedure consisting of the surgical fusion of the talocalcaneal (TC), talonavicular (TN), and calcaneocuboid (CC) joints in the foot. The primary goals of a triple arthrodesis are to relieve pain from arthritic, deformed, or unstable joints.

How painful is subtalar fusion?

Those with subtalar problems typically complain of pain along the outer side of the foot just below the ankle. Subtalar pain may be mistaken for ankle pain. Patients with subtalar joint problems frequently limp, favor the painless other foot, and notice swelling in this region.

Why is arthrodesis performed?

Arthrodesis, also known as artificial ankylosis or syndesis, is the artificial induction of joint ossification between two bones by surgery. This is done to relieve intractable pain in a joint which cannot be managed by pain medication, splints, or other normally indicated treatments.

What is calcaneal osteotomy?

A calcaneal osteotomy is a controlled break of the heel bone to correct a deformity of the foot and ankle. The calcaneus, or heel bone, plays an important role in walking.

What is Talonavicular arthrodesis?

Isolated talonavicular arthrodesis is performed to correct deformities of the hindfoot and treat degenerative, inflammatory, or posttraumatic disorders of the talonavicular joint. This procedure is known to provide significant functional improvement despite its major consequences on the residual motion of the hindfoot.

Is arthrodesis a major surgery?

Arthrodesis in the wrist stabilizes the joint. It fuses the long bone in your forearm to the smaller bones in your wrist. This is a major surgical procedure. Your doctor may only recommend it after trying conservative treatments first.

Can you run after a triple arthrodesis?

The lack of this side to side movement will be noticeable when walking on uneven ground surfaces. This does not, however, cause any pain, and all types of exercise are permitted following a triple arthrodesis.

What is tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis?

Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis is an effective salvage procedure in hindfoot conditions that effect the ankle and subtalar joint.

What are the possible complications of tibiotalar arthrodesis?

Formidable technical challenges exist in achieving a successful result, leading to numerous complications as high as 50% in some series. The most frequent complications after tibiotalar and tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis involve nonunion, malunion, infection, and wound complications among others.

What is talocalcaneal arthrodesis?

Talocalcaneal arthrodesis bypasses the sclerotic or fragmented portions of the talus at the expense of axial height.

What is Arthrodesis of the ankle?

Arthrodesis has remained the mainstay for treating arthritis and deformities of the ankle and hindfoot for more than a century. Formidable technical challenges exist in achieving a successful result, leading to numerous complications as high as 50% in some series.