TALONAVICULAR ARTHRODESIS IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID POLYARTHRITIS: 26 CASES

Purpose: Talonavicular arthritis, associated or not with rear foot deformity, is common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The work by Steinhauser and Gerard demonstrated the usefulness of talonavicular arthrodesis for the treatment of this rear foot disorder. The purpose of this study was to assess outcome after this surgical technique in patients with rheumatoid polyarthritis.Material and methods: Between 1988 and 1998, 26 feet (24 men, 2 women, 17 right, 7 left) were operated by the same surgeon. Mean age of the patients at surgery was 51 years. Mean delay from disease onset to talonavicular arthrodesis was 13 years. Postoperative immobilisation lasted 45 days. Mean follow-up was five years (1–10).Results: Patients were very satisfied or satisfied in 92.3% of the cases. Mean pre- and postoperative pain score was 8.14 and 1.77 respectively (p = 0.0001). Normal shoes could be worn by 37.5 and 66.7% of the patients pre- and postoperatively. Patient independence was significantly improved (p = 0.0001)....