Talocrural Arthrodesis Increases Osteoarthritis Severity in Adjacent Joints: A Midterm Computed Tomography Follow-Up Study

Annika Willems; Mauro Minnaard; Edwin H.G. Oei; Sita M.A. Bierma-Zeinstra; Duncan E. Meuffels

doi:10.1177/19386400231208533

Talocrural Arthrodesis Increases Osteoarthritis Severity in Adjacent Joints: A Midterm Computed Tomography Follow-Up Study

Annika Willems^*
, Mauro Minnaard
, Edwin H.G. Oei
, Sita M.A. Bierma-Zeinstra
, Duncan E. Meuffels

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

78 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background:

After talocrural arthrodesis, adjacent joints (subtalar, talonavicular, and calcaneocuboid) are often affected by osteoarthritis (OA)). It is unclear if OA is pre-existing to talocrural arthrodesis, or whether it develops after talocrural arthrodesis. This retrospective study is unique because it is the first study with preoperative and follow-up computed tomography (CT). The aim of this study is to investigate whether OA develops in adjacent joints after talocrural arthrodesis or if OA is already pre-existing. In addition, associations between degree of OA and patient-reported outcomes are investigated.

Methods:

Patients were selected from electronic files, and adjacent joint OA was assessed on preoperative CT and bilateral follow-up CT. Patient-reported outcomes were collected.

Results:

Twenty-three patients were included with an average follow-up time of 7 years (SD = 2). In participants without pre-existing OA, OA significantly progressed in all adjacent joints. In participants with pre-existing OA, OA progressed in the subtalar joint. Patient-reported outcomes were not correlated to OA.

Conclusions:

Osteoarthritis in the adjacent joints progresses after talocrural arthrodesis, especially in participants without pre-existing OA. The severity of OA is not related to patient-reported outcomes. Therefore, the clinical impact of the progression of OA seems to be limited.

Level of Evidence:

Level III: retrospective.

Original language	English
Article number	5
Pages (from-to)	548-555
Number of pages	8
Journal	Foot and Ankle Specialist
Volume	18
Issue number	5
Early online date	2 Nov 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/19386400231208533
Publication status	Published - Oct 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s). This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).

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Talocrural Arthrodesis Increases Osteoarthritis Severity in Adjacent JointsFinal published version, 254 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Talocrural Arthrodesis Increases Osteoarthritis Severity in Adjacent Joints: A Midterm Computed Tomography Follow-Up Study",

abstract = "Background: After talocrural arthrodesis, adjacent joints (subtalar, talonavicular, and calcaneocuboid) are often affected by osteoarthritis (OA)). It is unclear if OA is pre-existing to talocrural arthrodesis, or whether it develops after talocrural arthrodesis. This retrospective study is unique because it is the first study with preoperative and follow-up computed tomography (CT). The aim of this study is to investigate whether OA develops in adjacent joints after talocrural arthrodesis or if OA is already pre-existing. In addition, associations between degree of OA and patient-reported outcomes are investigated.Methods: Patients were selected from electronic files, and adjacent joint OA was assessed on preoperative CT and bilateral follow-up CT. Patient-reported outcomes were collected. Results: Twenty-three patients were included with an average follow-up time of 7 years (SD = 2). In participants without pre-existing OA, OA significantly progressed in all adjacent joints. In participants with pre-existing OA, OA progressed in the subtalar joint. Patient-reported outcomes were not correlated to OA. Conclusions: Osteoarthritis in the adjacent joints progresses after talocrural arthrodesis, especially in participants without pre-existing OA. The severity of OA is not related to patient-reported outcomes. Therefore, the clinical impact of the progression of OA seems to be limited. Level of Evidence: Level III: retrospective.",

author = "Annika Willems and Mauro Minnaard and Oei, \{Edwin H.G.\} and Bierma-Zeinstra, \{Sita M.A.\} and Meuffels, \{Duncan E.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Author(s). This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).",

year = "2025",

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doi = "10.1177/19386400231208533",

language = "English",

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AU - Minnaard, Mauro

AU - Oei, Edwin H.G.

AU - Bierma-Zeinstra, Sita M.A.

AU - Meuffels, Duncan E.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s). This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).

PY - 2025/10

Y1 - 2025/10

N2 - Background: After talocrural arthrodesis, adjacent joints (subtalar, talonavicular, and calcaneocuboid) are often affected by osteoarthritis (OA)). It is unclear if OA is pre-existing to talocrural arthrodesis, or whether it develops after talocrural arthrodesis. This retrospective study is unique because it is the first study with preoperative and follow-up computed tomography (CT). The aim of this study is to investigate whether OA develops in adjacent joints after talocrural arthrodesis or if OA is already pre-existing. In addition, associations between degree of OA and patient-reported outcomes are investigated.Methods: Patients were selected from electronic files, and adjacent joint OA was assessed on preoperative CT and bilateral follow-up CT. Patient-reported outcomes were collected. Results: Twenty-three patients were included with an average follow-up time of 7 years (SD = 2). In participants without pre-existing OA, OA significantly progressed in all adjacent joints. In participants with pre-existing OA, OA progressed in the subtalar joint. Patient-reported outcomes were not correlated to OA. Conclusions: Osteoarthritis in the adjacent joints progresses after talocrural arthrodesis, especially in participants without pre-existing OA. The severity of OA is not related to patient-reported outcomes. Therefore, the clinical impact of the progression of OA seems to be limited. Level of Evidence: Level III: retrospective.

AB - Background: After talocrural arthrodesis, adjacent joints (subtalar, talonavicular, and calcaneocuboid) are often affected by osteoarthritis (OA)). It is unclear if OA is pre-existing to talocrural arthrodesis, or whether it develops after talocrural arthrodesis. This retrospective study is unique because it is the first study with preoperative and follow-up computed tomography (CT). The aim of this study is to investigate whether OA develops in adjacent joints after talocrural arthrodesis or if OA is already pre-existing. In addition, associations between degree of OA and patient-reported outcomes are investigated.Methods: Patients were selected from electronic files, and adjacent joint OA was assessed on preoperative CT and bilateral follow-up CT. Patient-reported outcomes were collected. Results: Twenty-three patients were included with an average follow-up time of 7 years (SD = 2). In participants without pre-existing OA, OA significantly progressed in all adjacent joints. In participants with pre-existing OA, OA progressed in the subtalar joint. Patient-reported outcomes were not correlated to OA. Conclusions: Osteoarthritis in the adjacent joints progresses after talocrural arthrodesis, especially in participants without pre-existing OA. The severity of OA is not related to patient-reported outcomes. Therefore, the clinical impact of the progression of OA seems to be limited. Level of Evidence: Level III: retrospective.

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SN - 1938-6400

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JO - Foot and Ankle Specialist

JF - Foot and Ankle Specialist

IS - 5

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ER -

Talocrural Arthrodesis Increases Osteoarthritis Severity in Adjacent Joints: A Midterm Computed Tomography Follow-Up Study

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