Clinical outcomes after calcaneonavicular coalition resection in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of preoperative to postoperative changes in pain and function.

Calcaneonavicular coalition is traditionally considered a pediatric condition; however, some patients remain symptomatic into adulthood, and evidence regarding surgical outcomes in this population remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate clinical improvement following calcaneonavicular coalition resection in adults through a systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis of preoperative to postoperative changes in pain and function. A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus was performed to identify studies published between January 2016 and December 2025. Eligible studies included adult patients undergoing surgical resection of calcaneonavicular coalition and reporting preoperative and postoperative VAS and/or AOFAS scores. Pooled mean differences were calculated using a random-effects model, and postoperative complications were analyzed descriptively. Four studies comprising 111 adult patients met the inclusion criteria. Surgical resection was associated with a significant reduction in pain (mean difference -3.27; 95% CI -5.16 to -1.39) and improvement in function (mean difference 20.12; 95% CI 3.39-36.86). The overall nerve injury rate was 4.5%, and recurrence occurred in 2.7% of cases, with no reported infections or thromboembolic events. Surgical resection of calcaneonavicular coalition in adults is associated with significant improvement in pain and function and represents a reasonable therapeutic option in selected patients.