| Tarsal coalition | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Peroneal spastic flatfoot, Tarsal synostosis, or Tarsal dysostosis |
 | |
| Tarsal bones(normal) | |
| Specialty | Rheumatology  |
Tarsal coalition is an abnormal connecting bridge of tissue between two normally-separate tarsal (foot) bones, and is considered a sort of birth defect. The term 'coalition' means a coming together of two or more entities to merge into one mass (in the case of bones, see synostosis).[1] The tissue connecting the bones, often referred to as a "bar", may be composed of fibrous or osseous tissue. The two most common types of tarsal coalitions are calcaneo-navicular (calcaneonavicular bar) and talo-calcaneal (talocalcaneal bar), comprising 90% of all tarsal coalitions.[2] There are other bone coalition combinations possible, but they are very rare.[3] Symptoms tend to occur in the same location, regardless of the location of coalition: on the lateral foot, just anterior and below the lateral malleolus. This area is called the sinus tarsi.[3]
- ^ English Language Dictionary, 2007
- ^ LearningRadiology.com
- ^ a b Tarsal coalition and painful flatfoot, K.A. Vincent, Shriners Hospital for Children, Portland, Oregon and Department of Orthopedics, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR 97201-3905, USA