Talectomy. A long-term follow-up evaluation.

Of 26 talectomies with an average follow-up period of 20 years, 24 (92%) were judged to have satisfactory results. The average age at surgery was 10.25 years; however, there is no ideal age for performing talectomies. The results seem to be equally good regardless of the preoperative deformity. The procedure did produce stable, painless plantigrade feet. Talectomy has a place in orthopedic surgery today. However, this drastic procedure is indicated only in those feet where the deformity is rigid and severe, where a plantigrade foot is required in patients who are younger than the age usually recommended for triple arthrodesis, and where experience has shown that other, less radical approaches would be unsatisfactory.