Evaluation of peritalar subluxation in adult acquired flatfoot deformity using computed tomography and weightbearing multiplanar imaging

Background

The aim of this study was to assess the inferior talus-superior talus (inf-tal-sup-tal) angle (previously proven reliable in multiplanar-weight bearing imaging (MP-WB)) on both computed tomography (CT) and MP-WB scans. We sought to compare the angle between the two modalities in both AAFD and control groups, as well as to compare the groups to each other.

Methods

Inf-tal-sup-tal angles were compared between a stage II AAFD group (n = 38) with routine MP-WB and CT scans and a control group (n = 20) with preoperative CT scans for lisfranc injuries and normal hindfoot alignment after healing.

Results

The CT inf-tal-sup-tal angle was significantly greater in AAFD compared to control (AAFD, 12 ± 6; control, 5 ± 4; p < 0.001), but was even greater with MP-WB. There was no significant correlation between inf-tal-sup-tal angles on MP-WB and CT (Pearson’s = 0.29, p = 0.08).

Conclusions

MP-WB imaging proved to be correlated more strongly with AAFD than CT by revealing greater hindfoot valgus. This confirmed that CT scans are useful in predicting AAFD, but cannot be used as a surrogate for MP-WB scans.