Clinical Outcome After Subtalar Arthroscopy

Abstract

We investigated the clinical outcomes of patients with specific symptoms and physical findings of subtalar pathology with nonspecific radiographic findings after subtalar arthroscopy. Preoperative workup included plain radiographs in all of the patients, magnetic resonance imaging in seven patients, and bone scan in six patients. Based on these studies, no patient had significant subtalar arthrosis. Twelve patients underwent subtalar arthroscopy. Clinical outcome was rated with the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Hindfoot Score. Preoperatively, the score ranged from 54 to 75, with a mean of 60. Postoperative scores ranged from 53 to 85, with a mean of 71. The follow-up averaged 17.5 months. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and bone scan uniformly underestimated the degree of articular damage. There were no operative complications. Three patients improved their scores by 10 points or greater. Two of these patients had debridement of a cartilage flap to a stable base performed. The third patient had an arthroscopically assisted removal of a loose body. Three of the four patients whose scores decreased have progressed to subtalar arthrodesis. We conclude from this small series of patients that arthroscopy is the most accurate method of diagnosing subtalar articular cartilage damage, but that it has limited therapeutic benefit in the treatment of early degenerative joint disease.