Derotation of the Talus and Arthrodesis Treatment of Stages II-V Müller-Weiss Disease: Midterm Results of 36 Cases

Various operative procedures have been reported for the treatment of Müller-Weiss disease (MWD). This study reports the midterm operative treatment results for stages II to V MWD with derotation of the talus and arthrodesis.

Thirty-four patients (36 feet) with MWD were treated by talonavicular (TN) or talonavicular-cuneiform (TNC) arthrodesis in our center from 2008 to 2015. The affected feet were staged according to the Maceira staging system (stage II: 9; stage III: 10; stage IV: 9; stage V: 8). The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) midfoot scale, the visual analog scale (VAS), and relative radiologic parameters were evaluated preoperatively and also during follow-up. The mean follow-up duration was 38.2 (range, 25-113 months).

The final follow-up showed satisfactory outcomes. Overall, the AOFAS scores improved from 41.5 (range, 20-56) to 85.3 (range, 68-100) points (P <.001), and the VAS score decreased from 5.7 (range, 3-8) to 0.9 (range, 0-4) points (P <.001). The Tomeno-Méary angle decreased from −6.7 (range, −26.4 to 17.7) to 0.7 (range, −5.3 to 7) degrees (P=.001). The calcaneal pitch angle increased from 13.7 (range, 4.1-26.2) to 22.0 (range, 13.3-28.9) degrees (P < .001). The anteroposterior (AP) talar–first metatarsal angle decreased from −15.8 (range, −30.1 to −13.7) to −7.0 (range, −25.9 to −8.9) degrees (P < .001), and the AP talocalcaneal angle increased from 14.7 (range, 4.7-22.3) to 22.1 (range, 13.4-29.5) degrees (P=.005). The AP talonavicular coverage angle decreased from −27.0 (range, −40.4 to −13.3) to −7.8 degrees (range, −20.7 to −1.8) degrees (P < .001).

The midterm results found that the TN or TNC joint fusion could achieve a favorable clinical and radiologic outcome for patients with MWD. Even for the patients with severe deformities (stages IV-V), this treatment strategy could also achieve satisfactory deformity correction and functional improvement. Intraoperative restoration of talus rotation was the key to normal alignment of the subtalar joint/TN joint.

Level IV, retrospective case series.