The diagnosis and treatment of instability of the subtalar joint

Abstract

We have developed a method of measuring anterior displacement of the calcaneus on the talus in instability of the subtalar joint and have used the technique to demonstrate anterior instability in 50 patients (72 feet) showing a positive drawer sign. The angle of the posterior facet of the talus was also measured to assess the bony configuration. Our patients with subtalar joint instability could be divided into three categories. The first group had a history of trauma leading to ankle instability (26 cases), the second showed generalised joint laxity (10 cases) and the third were young females with a history of chronic stress on the foot and a poor bony block (14 cases). Satisfactory results were obtained by treating the instability with a brace or by reconstruction of the interosseous talocalcaneal ligament.

Influence of kinematic analysis methods on detecting ankle and subtalar joint instability

“…One mechanism of instability at the subtalar joint is associated with damage at the cervical ligament and the ITCL (Bonnel et al, 2010;Kato, 1995). Subtalar joint stability was mostly affected after sectioning the ITCL during inversion, supination and inversion with the foot dorsiflexed (Table 5).…”

Sinus tarsi syndrome and subtalar joint instability

“…Several methods have been proposed for measuring the ''laxity'' of the subtalar joint [29][30][31]. Arthrography of the posterior subtalar joint [32] (Fig.…”

Stress Radiography and Stress Examination of the Talocrural and Subtalar Joint on Helical Computed Tomography

“…Obviously, there is a direct relation between the amount of motion and the so-called tilt, but we suggest that determining the amount of translation and rotation in a direct manner might prove to be more helpful in objectifying abnormal motion in the subtalar joint. Recently, Kato [15] described a method to measure anterior displacement of the calcaneus in relation to the talus. This translation is only one of the components.…”

“…Increase in talocalcaneal movement is found when a lesion of the calcaneofibular ligament is combined with a lesion of the interosseous talocalcaneal ligament [13]. Laxity or elongation of this interosseous ligament has been reported to be a cause of subtalar joint instability [15,34]. Subtalar instability must be considered as a cause of symptoms in chronic lateral instability, particularly if other causes of instability have been excluded [4].…”