Radiographic Characteristics and the Clinical Results of the Operative Treatment of Muller-Weiss Disease

Choi, Hong Joon

Abstract

PURPOSE
To present radiographic characteristics and report the clinical results of the operative treatment of Muller-Weiss disease.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This is a retrospective study including 13 patients, 14 feet who had been operated for Muller-Weiss disease between April 2006 and December 2011. Osteoarthritis of the peri-navicular joints were radiographically evaluated. Various range of peri-navicular fusion and joint-preserving surgeries according to patients' symptoms and radiographic findings were done. The clinical results were evaluated by American Orthopaedics Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) midfoot scale and visual analogue scale (VAS).
RESULTS
On radiographs, osteoarthritic changes were presented at talonavicular joint in 11 cases, calcaneocuboid joint in 7 cases, subtalar joint in 6 cases, naviculo-cuneiform joint in 1 case. The mean anteroposterior talocalcaneal angle was 16.6 degrees. On hindfoot alignment view, 6 cases were varus, 5 cases were neutral and 3 cases were valgus alignment. Fusion comprised 6 cases in triple fusion, 1 case in talonavicular-cuneiform fusion, 2 cases in talonavicualr fusion and 1 case in talonavicular & calcaneocuboid fusion. Joint-preserving surgeries were bony fragment excision of the lateral part of navicular & medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy in 1 case, bony spur excision of talonavicular joint in 1 case and medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy in 2 cases. The postoperative AOFAS and VAS score were improved significantly (p=0.000, p=0.000).
CONCLUSION
In cases of Muller-Weiss disease without osteoarthritic changes at peri-navicular joints, fragment excision of navicular, bony spur excision with or without medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy were effective operative treatments.