Combined subtalar distraction arthrodesis with peroneus brevis tenotomy for posttraumatic subtalar arthritis.

<bold>Background: </bold>Subtalar distraction arthrodesis is advocated as a salvage procedure for isolated posttraumatic subtalar arthritis. This study aimed at evaluating combined subtalar distraction arthrodesis with peroneus brevis tenotomy for such cases.<bold>Methods: </bold>Twenty patients with isolated posttraumatic subtalar arthritis managed by combined subtalar distraction arthrodesis and peroneus brevis tenotomy were reviewed for a retrospective study. The American orthopaedic foot and ankle society [AOFAS] hindfoot scoring, talocalcaneal height [TCH], talocalcaneal angle [TCA] and heel valgus angle [HVA] were used for both pre and postoperative assessments.<bold>Results: </bold>The mean postoperative [TCH] [70.3±1.9mm] was statistically better than the preoperative value [64.7±2.2mm] [p<0.001]. There was a statistically significant decrease in [HVA] [p<0.001]. On the contrary, there was a statistically significant increase in both [AOFAS] hindfoot scoring and the [TCA] [p<0.001].<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Applying this technique for isolated posttraumatic subtalar arthritis with peroneal tendinitis improved both lateral retromalleolar swelling and deformity correction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]