Talonavicular arthrodesis in the rheumatoid foot.

Arthrodesis of the talonavicular joint with a cylindrical dowel was performed in 19 feet in 17 rheumatoid patients with arthritic destruction of the talonavicular joint, but without fixed hindfoot deformity. Osseous union was achieved in 12 feet, but all patients experienced pain relief and no foot showed progressive valgus deformity of the hindfoot during follow-up. Staple fixation seemed to promote osseous union. The procedure, easy to perform and requiring only 6 weeks of immobilization, may, in the absence of fixed hindfoot deformity, supersede triple arthrodesis in rheumatoid patients with hindfoot arthritis.