Correction of Varus Talar Deformities in Ankle Joint Replacement

There is limited information on surgical techniques for correcting a varus talar deformity in patients undergoing ankle joint replacement. This article reviews 32 patients with a varus talar deformity of >10°, who underwent a total ankle replacement. Of the 32 ankles, 15 had a varus talar deformity of >15°. The importance of appropriate preoperative assessment and a stepwise intraoperative approach is described in detail. With an average follow-up of 17 months, a satisfactory radiographic correction was obtained in 94% (30/32) of the ankles. It is noted that 75% (24/32) of patients required ancillary procedures after ankle replacement to obtain a plantigrade foot. This review will demonstrate that correction of moderate to severe varus talar deformities is possible when considering a total ankle replacement for the management of end-stage ankle arthritis.