Changes in the subtalar joint alignment after supramalleolar osteotomy for varus ankle arthritis

Background: The subtalar joint may compensate for tibio-talar deformity, but what would happen to the joint after the deformity was corrected is not well known. Supramalleolar osteotomy (SMOT) is an effective procedure for the treatment of varus deformity of ankle arthritis. The objective of this study was to investigate the subtalar joint alignment pre and postoperatively following SMOT, and the factors which influenced the alignment of the subtalar joint.Methods: Thirty-one patients with varus ankle arthritis (Takakura stage 2, 3a and 3b) who were treated using SMOT were retrospectively reviewed. The subtalar and ankle joint alignment was measured on weightbearing radiograph and weightbearing computerized tomography (WBCT).Results: The foot and ankle offset (FAO), tibial articular surface angle (TAS), tibio-talar surface angle (TTS), and subtalar vertical angle (SVA) were significantly corrected (P<0.05). The subtalar inclination angle (SIA) decreased in 19 patients and increased in the other 12 cases after the SMOT (P<0.001). The shift of subtalar joint (?SIA) showed an inverse correlation with the preoperative FAO (P<0.001, r = -0.621).Conclusions: The shift of subtalar joint after SMOT could maintain the neutral position of the hindfoot and showed a negative correlation with the preoperative FAO. The ?SIA was greater in the severer preoperative hindfoot deformity.