Tarsal coalitions are rare in the general population. I suspect this may be the reason why many of these are missed or wrongly diagnosed.
The patient seen in the imaging below has had marked foot pain for many years and has consulted various health professionals over the years. One intervention, approximately ten years ago, involved a recommendation from a sports doctor to give up any weight-bearing sports. This patient is now 41, and I feel this is not a treatment plan I would want to be told.
The patient was sent for x-rays, and a sizeable calcaneonavicular coalition was observed (note the distal superior calcaneal prominence on the lateral view). It actually looks as though it has had a fracture through the coalition at some point.
The patient has been offered an excision of this coalition that should see the resolution of symptoms and a return to pain-free sporting activities.
If you have any specific questions or would like to discuss similar cases, feel free to contact me.
(This content is intended for healthcare professionals only)