Osteolysis of structural autograft after calcaneocuboid distraction arthrodesis for stage II posterior tibial tendon dysfunction

Surgical treatment of stage II posterior tibial tendon dysfunction that fails nonoperative treatment is amenable to operative treatment. This commonly consists of a medial soft-tissue reconstruction and lateral column lengthening. We report on 32 patients undergoing distraction calcaneocuboid arthrodesis using an autogenous tricortical iliac crest graft. Almost 50% of patients did not go on to complete and uneventful incorporation of the graft at the arthrodesis site. Two different types of failure were noted. The first was classic nonunion which maintained structural integrity of the graft. The second was osteolysis and collapse of the graft accompanying the nonunion. Risk factors included smoking, K-wire fixation and possibly larger deformities requiring Achilles tendon lengthening. Complications of nonunion were salvageable with reoperation.