ARTHRITIS OF THE SUBTALAR JOINT ASSOCIATED WITH SUSTENTACULUM TALI FACET CONFIGURATION

Variation in the articular facet of the sustenticulum tali have been described by many authors. Most researchers view these differences in facet configuration as anatomical variations of no functional significance. Bruckner (1987), for the time argued that these facet configurations affect joint stability. The purpose of this study was to determine the talar facet configuration of calcanei in India, measure the angle between the anterior and middle facet planes of these calcanei, and assess the relation between the above parameters and the degenerative changes in the subtalar joints. Study was conducted in 220 calcanei of unknown age & sex. The facet patterns observed were fused anterior and middle facets (Type I), three separate facets (Type II), absence of the anterior facet (Type III) and three merged facets (Type IV). Osteoarthritic changes studied are lipping, eburnation on visual inspection and subchondral sclerosis on radiographs. Present study reveals that the talar facet configuration of calcanei and the angle between the anterior and middle facets influence the stability of the subtalar joints and development of osteoarthritis.