Triple Arthrodesis in the Treatment of Fixed Cavovarus Deformity in Adolescent Patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease

Ten adolescent patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (12 feet) were evaluated an average of 7 years, 7 months following triple arthrodesis (TA) for the treatment of cavovarus deformity. The TA was the primary or index bone procedure. At follow-up, five feet were plantigrade, asymptomatic, and radiographically fused at all three joints. Three feet were plantigrade and asymptomatic, but two had talonavicular pseudarthrosis and one had calcaneocuboid pseudarthrosis. Three feet were radiographically fused at all three joints, but in nonplantigrade positions and symptomatic. One foot required a revision TA. In general, TA offers adolescent Charcot-Marie-Tooth patients a stable plantigrade foot in the face of a progressive disorder. The residual deformity, revision, and pseudarthrosis rates are similar to those for adults. Postoperative pain was related to a nonplantigrade foot and not to the presence of pseudarthrosis. It is not known whether a nonplantigrade foot was a result of incomplete surgical correction or recurrent deformity due to progressive muscle imbalance.