Complications of midfoot and hindfoot arthrodesis.

Midfoot and hindfoot arthrodeses traditionally have been done to treat deformities resulting from paralytic disorders, residual clubfoot deformity, and posttraumatic arthritis. The surgical indications for midfoot and hindfoot arthrodeses more recently have been expanded to include painful arthritic deformities associated with neuroarthropathy, seropositive or seronegative arthropathies, and neurologic disorders. Regardless of the joint fused or the technique used, the goal of each remains similar: the creation of a painless, plantigrade foot capable of being fitted into, at the very least, a custom shoe. The aim of the current study is to describe the major complications associated with midfoot and hindfoot fusions in adults, and the prevention and the treatment of these complications.