Accessory Talar Facet Impingement and Sinus Tarsi Pain Associated With Accessory Anterolateral Talar Facet

Background: Sinus tarsi pain caused by accessory talar facet impingement (ATFI) owing to accessory anterolateral talar facet (AALTF) is not well documented. We evaluated prevalence of AALTF and differences of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings between persons with and without sinus tarsi pain, and investigated the relevant association between MRI findings and sinus tarsi pain in persons with AALTF. Methods: We performed a case-control study on 120 ankles with sinus tarsi pain and 120 age- and gender-matched ankles without sinus tarsi pain. As MRI findings, bone marrow edema (BME), sinus tarsi fat obliteration (STFO), calcaneal cyst, talocalcaneal coalition, Gissane angle, talar inferolateral surface (TILS) angle, and calcaneal cortical thickness (CCT) were evaluated. The MRI findings were compared between persons with and without sinus tarsi pain, and between persons with and without AALTF. Among persons with AALTF, MRI findings were compared between those with and without sinus tarsi pain. Relevant association was evaluated between MRI findings and sinus tarsi pain in persons with AALTF. Results: Presence of AALTF, BME, and STFO were significantly higher in the group with sinus tarsi pain. The Gissane angle was significantly smaller, and the TILS angle and CCT were significantly larger in the group with sinus tarsi pain. The BME (OR 7.571, CI 1.453-39.446) and small Gissane angle (OR 0.891, CI 0.804-0.986) were significantly associated with sinus tarsi pain in persons with the AALTF. Conclusion: The study provides evidence for ATFI related to impingement of an AALTF associated with talocalcaneal BME. Level of Evidence: Level III, case-control study.

Calcium Sulfate/Calcium Phosphate Bone Void Filler in the Treatment of Bilateral Adolescent Unicameral Calcaneal Bone Cysts: 36-Month Follow-Up

A 36-month follow-up of the management of bilateral adolescent unicameral bone cysts in a high school gymnast treated with a calcium sulfate/calcium phosphate (CSCP) bone void filler (BVF) is presented. The more developed left calcaneal cyst was managed with a traditional, open approach consisting of allogenic bone graft, CSCP BVF mixed with platelet-rich plasma. The less developed right calcaneal cyst was managed with a less used approach, a percutaneous bone cortex incision with only the CSCP BVF. The rationale for the selection between the open and percutaneous approaches, long-term BVF incorporation, and positive patient outcome allowing a quick return to athletics are presented.

Calcaneus Metastasis from Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma 12 Years after Total Thyroidectomy

We report the case of a sixty-eight-year-old female patient who presented for left ankle pain; X-rays and MRI showed a benign calcaneal cyst, found to be delayed distant metastasis from primary papillary thyroid carcinoma. Patient required surgical excision of the cyst. Results of histological examination showed metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy 12 years prior to presentation, with the same pathology. Postoperatively, she was treated with radioactive iodine. At 10-year follow-up post calcaneal mass excision, she was found to have a right proximal tibial mass and found to be recurrent with the same pathology. This case reports a rare condition that will be taken into consideration in bone metastasis with thyroid cancer.

Prevalence of AALTF and relevant associated MR findings in persons with and without sinus tarsi pain

Category: Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Sinus tarsi pain is very common, however, etiology of this condition has not been well understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences of MRI findings between persons with and without sinus tarsi pain and to investigate the relationships of sinus tarsi pain and accessory anterolateral talar facet (AALTF). Methods: We reviewed MR images of 120 ankles with sinus tarsi pain in 115 consecutively registered patients. And age- and sex-matched MR images of 120 ankles without pain were also reviewed. We compared the presence of AALTF, calcaneal cyst (CC), bone marrow edema (BME), sinus tarsi fat obliteration (STFO) at the Gissane angle, and coalition between persons with and without sinus tarsi pain. We also compared Gissane angle, talar infero-lateral surface angle (TILSA), and calcaneal cortical thickness (CCT). Of persons with sinus tarsi pain, we compared these parameters between persons with and without AALTF. Results: AALTF was present in 61 ankles (50.8%) with sinus tarsi pain and 34 ankles (28.3%) without sinus tarsi pain (P<0.001). BME (P=0.001) and STFO (P=0.009) were significantly more frequent in persons with sinus tarsi pain. Presences of CC (P=0.108) and coalition (P=0.605) were not different. The Gissane angle was significantly smaller in persons with sinus tarsi pain than in persons without sinus tarsi pain (P<0.001) and TILSA (P=0.032), and CCT (P<0.001) were significantly larger in persons without sinus tarsi pain (Table 1). Of persons with sinus tarsi pain, BME was significantly more frequent in persons with AALTF and TILSA (P=0.032) and CCT were significantly larger in persons with AALTF (Table 2). Conclusion: The MRI findings of patients with sinus tarsi pain showed higher prevalence of AALTF, BME, and STFO. The AALTF may be associated with the MRI findings of talar and calcaneal BME.

A Rare Case of Chondroblastoma with Revision After Graft Rejection

We present a rare case of calcaneal chondroblastoma with subsequent surgical revision after graft rejection in a 13-year-old boy. Complications were encountered after the injectable bone graft filler was placed in the calcaneus after curettage. With noted subsequent sinus tract formation, revision surgery was performed that involved dissection of the sinus tract, removal of bone void filler, and application of demineralized bone matrix sponge human allograft soaked in vancomycin-impregnated saline. Sixteen weeks after the revision surgical intervention, the patient resumed normal athletic activities without pain or restrictions. One and a half years after the initial surgery, the patient had complete resolution of the calcaneal cyst and was discharged.

Spontaneously Healed Pathologic Fracture over a Critical-Size Calcaneal Cyst

Simple bone cysts are nonsymptomatic lesions. They typically involve the medullary cavity, but they can also be found in nonlong bones such as the calcaneum. Their treatment remains controversial varying from observation and conservative healing to irritating injections or bone grafting. In the case of a pathologic fracture, surgical treatment seems most appropriate especially when the cyst is situated on a weight-bearing bone. We present herein the rare case of a spontaneously healed pathological fracture over a critical-size calcaneal cyst of a patient reluctant to undergo surgical treatment. An interpretation of the healing procedure as well as a review of the literature is presented.

Incidence and Morphologic Characteristics of Benign Calcaneal Cystic Lesions on MRI

Background: Since we have frequently noted osseous cyst-like lesions within the calcaneus on MRI studies, we sought to systematically evaluate this finding to determine the incidence and morphologic characteristics on MRI. Methods: Three observers blinded to age evaluated 198 MRIs of the ankle (74 males, 124 females; mean age 47 years, range 13 to 99 years), recording the presence and size of calcaneal cyst-like foci. Statistical analysis was performed to determine if there was an association with age. Additionally, MRI of 12 ankles precontrast and postcontrast were reviewed for the presence of blood vessels in the calcaneus corresponding to the location of the cyst-like lesions and 24 ankle MR arthrograms were reviewed to evaluate communication of the cyst with the adjacent joint. Results: Of the 198 ankle MRI examinations, 81 (40%) had hyperintense foci, all within the mid-calcaneal body. The size ranged from 0.01 cm 2 to 2.47 cm 2 , with a mean size of 0.36 cm 2 (± 0.45 cm 2 ). Thirty-seven (46%) were linear or elongated, whereas 44 (54%) were ovoid or round. Seven of the 81 foci (8.6% or 3.5% of the total population) were 1 cm 2 or larger. There was no significant association of patient age and presence ( p = 0.49) or size ( p = 0.48) of the focus. Location of the cyst-like foci, which often are ovoid or linear, corresponds to penetrating microvessels on precontrast and postcontrast MRI. One MR arthrogram showed communication of a cyst-like focus and the subtalar joint. Conclusions: Calcaneal lesions are relatively common incidental findings on MRI. These lesions appear to represent intraosseous ganglion cysts that arise from the anterior margin of the posterior facet of the subtalar joint in the anatomical neighborhood where vessels penetrate the superior calcaneal cortex. The lesions can vary is size; however, there is no correlation between patient age and lesion size and no significant association between age and presence of these foci.

Simple bone cyst of the calcaneus. A case report and literature review

The authors presented a case report of a patient presenting with heel pain symptoms and physical findings similar to those associated with a heel spur syndrome. With a standard x-ray, the presence of a simple bone cyst was evident. Although mainly reported in tubular bones, steroid injection therapy has been successful and appears to be replacing surgical curettage and packing as the preferred choice of treatment in many cases. As more reports of the successful eradication of simple bone cysts of the calcaneus with steroid injections are reported, greater confidence for using it as a treatment choice for this particular lesion may be gained. The surgical approach in the patient presented here was chosen because of factors that the authors believe increased the likelihood of a pathologic fracture, such as size and extent of the lesion, history of progressive pain, and activity level of the patient. The larger body weight and the resulting stress of the patient more likely to present with a calcaneal cyst may also be factors to consider.