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Foot & Ankle
intermediate
X-Type

Tarsal Coalition Diagnosis Treatment

Paediatric Foot

A 13-year-old boy presents with recurrent right ankle sprains and activity-related hindfoot pain over 18 months. His parents note he has "flat feet" and his foot seems stiff. Examination shows a rigid flatfoot with limited subtalar motion, peroneal muscle spasm, and pain with forced inversion. The "too many toes" sign is positive. Oblique radiographs show an "anteater nose" sign at the calcaneonavicular junction. Regarding tarsal coalition:

Mark each as TRUE or FALSE

A

Tarsal coalition is an abnormal connection (bone, cartilage, or fibrous tissue) between tarsal bones...

B

Clinical features include rigid flatfoot (limited subtalar motion), peroneal spastic flatfoot (peron...

C

Tarsal coalition is extremely rare (less than 0.1%); it is rarely bilateral; talocalcaneal coalition...

D

Imaging includes oblique radiographs (calcaneonavicular - "anteater nose" or "elongated anterior pro...

E

Conservative treatment includes activity modification, orthotics, immobilization in cast or boot, an...

Answer the questions to see explanations

Click T (True) or F (False) for each option