title: Subtalar fusion in cerebral palsy patients: results of a new technique using corticocancellous allograft.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Valgus deformity of the hindfoot in cerebral palsy (CP) patients is common and causes functional deterioration and shoe fitting problems together with skin ulcerations. Our aims in this study are, to present an intra-articular technique of subtalar fusion using allograft and internal fixation to achieve stabilization and second to report the results and clinical outcome of a series of intra-articular subtalar arthrodesis performed in CP children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review of radiographs and medical records of 145 children with CP who underwent intra-articular subtalar fusion from January 1994 to December 2004. The subtalar joint was fixed through the anterior facet with a cannulated screw whereas the anterior aspect of the calcaneus was parallel to the anterior aspect of the head of the talus. Tricortical iliac crest allograft was placed into the sinus tarsi and the denuded posterior facet area. Results are grouped as good, satisfactory, and poor according to the radiographic and clinical outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age at the time of surgery was 12.7 years (range: 5 to 20 y) and the average follow-up was 4.8 years (range: 2 to 11 y). Good results were obtained in 242 feet (96%). Satisfactory results were obtained in 6 feet (2%) which were painless pseudoarthrosis of subtalar joint in 2 feet and screw removal was required in 4 feet because of pain. Nonunion of thesubtalar joint together with recurrence of deformity was observed in 5 feet (2%) which is accepted as poor result and required revision surgery. No deep infections, implant failure, allograft failure were observed in a mean of 4.8 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our described technique of intra-articular subtalar joint fusion is safe and reliable in CP children with high rate of satisfactory results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic studies-Level IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Selcuk University Meram Faculty of Medicine, Konya Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Senaran
authors.forename: Guney
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Mary K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Mihir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thacker
authors.forename: Kirk W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Dabney
authors.forename: Freeman
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000601:surgery; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013380:Subtalar Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult