Reconstruction of the varus ankle from soft-tissue procedures with osteotomy through arthrodesis.

Abstract

Cavovarus foot and ankle reconstruction is done to preserve motion whenever possible, and to maintain or impart stability, realigning foot and ankle joints into as anatomic a position as possible to restore a more normal mechanical axis to the extremity, and redistribute joint pressure or load more evenly. In patients who have a flexible deformity based on the Coleman block test, this is accomplished through calcaneal and metatarsal osteotomies to preserve joint motion, even in the presence of osteoarthritis. In cases of rigid and nonreducible deformity, the rigid cavovarus foot and ankle are addressed using a modified triple arthrodesis, an ankle arthrodesis, a tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis, or pantalar arthrodesis. In most patients, bony procedures are combined with soft-tissue realignment procedures.