A tarsal coalition is a congenital defect that can cause painful foot and ankle symptoms later in life. At Hosey and Murphy Foot & Ankle Centers with multiple locations in Clinton Township, Sterling Heights, and Mount Clemens, Michigan, the expert podiatrists diagnose tarsal coalitions and offer personalized treatment to reduce your symptoms and restore your foot and ankle function. Call Hosey and Murphy Foot & Ankle Centers or make an appointment online today for expert podiatry care.

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What is a tarsal coalition?

Your tarsal bones are the bones that make up the back of your foot and heel — a tarsal coalition forms when these bones don’t connect correctly. A tarsal coalition can affect the bones, cartilage, or other fibrous tissue in your feet. If you have a tarsal coalition, you have a 50% chance of having the condition in both of your feet.

A tarsal coalition usually begins during fetal development when the individual tarsal bones don’t form correctly. While the condition is sometimes diagnosed in children, it’s found more often in adolescents and adults who develop foot pain and deformities as their bones mature.

What are the symptoms of a tarsal coalition?

If you have a tarsal coalition, you might experience symptoms including:

  • Mild to severe pain when walking or standing
  • Tired or fatigued legs
  • Muscle spasms
  • Your foot turns out while you walk
  • Flatfoot
  • Limping
  • Stiffness in your foot and ankle

As with many health conditions, your condition and symptoms can become more severe when the issue is left untreated. If you have any of these symptoms, make an appointment at Hosey and Murphy Foot & Ankle Centers for diagnosis and treatment.

What’s the process for diagnosing a tarsal coalition?

While tarsal coalitions are usually present from birth, the condition isn’t usually diagnosed until adolescence or adulthood when the symptoms emerge. The podiatrists at Hosey and Murphy Foot & Ankle Centers use a thorough exam and X-rays to diagnose tarsal coalitions. They review your medical history and symptoms while moving your foot and feeling your tarsal bones.

What’s the treatment for tarsal coalition?

The expert podiatrists at Hosey and Murphy Foot & Ankle Centers provide customized treatment to address your specific needs. They typically begin with conservative treatments, including:

  • Anti-inflammatory medicine
  • Physical therapy
  • Steroid injections
  • Orthotics
  • Immobilization

Your podiatrist might also offer an anesthetic injection to release muscle spasm in your legs before fitting you with a boot or cast to support and stabilize your foot.

However, if these nonsurgical treatments don’t resolve your symptoms, your surgeon might suggest surgery to repair your foot and help you recover a full and painless range of motion.

Call Hosey and Murphy Foot & Ankle Centers or make an appointment online today for expert treatment for a tarsal coalition.