CIM SA, Cabinet Imagerie Médicale, 40a route de Malagnou 1208, Genève, Switzerland.
Skeletal Radiol. 2013 Sep;42(9):1209-14. doi: 10.1007/s00256-013-1628-1. Epub 2013 May 4.
To present the ultrasound appearance of talocalcaneal coalitions (TCC).
We present a retrospective review of 11 patients (8 women and 3 men, age range 17-58 years, mean age 35.3 years) in which ultrasound, the first imaging study carried out, detected a TCC that was not known or suspected clinically. Patients were subsequently examined by standard radiographs, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
In 9 patients with fibrous coalition ultrasound showed a reduced joint space of the medial aspect of the anterior talocalcaneal joint associated with an irregular, pointed appearance of its outline. In 2 patients with osseous coalitions ultrasound revealed a smooth continuity of the hyperechoic bone surface between the medial talus and the substentaculum tali. The diagnosis was confirmed in 4 patients with CT and in 3 with MRI. In the remaining 4 patients standard radiographs were consistent with TCC.
Owing to its tomographic capabilities ultrasound can detect TCC. We suggest that study of the anterior subtalar joint should be a part of every ankle ultrasound examination as it can show a clinically unsuspected TCC. Confirmation of the coalition by CT or MRI is required in the preoperative assessment to better assess the type and extent of the congenital anomaly as well as the adjacent joints.
介绍距跟骨联合（TCC）的超声表现。
我们回顾性分析了 11 例患者（8 名女性，3 名男性，年龄 17-58 岁，平均年龄 35.3 岁），这些患者的超声检查（首先进行的影像学研究）发现了临床上未知或可疑的 TCC。随后，对患者进行标准的 X 线片、计算机断层扫描（CT）或磁共振成像（MRI）检查。
在 9 例纤维性联合中，超声显示前距跟骨联合内侧关节间隙变窄，其轮廓呈不规则、尖锐状。在 2 例骨性联合中，超声显示内侧距骨和跟骨下支之间的骨表面呈光滑连续的高回声。4 例患者通过 CT 确诊，3 例患者通过 MRI 确诊。在其余 4 例患者中，标准 X 线片与 TCC 一致。
由于超声具有断层成像的能力，因此可以检测 TCC。我们建议，在进行踝关节超声检查时，应将对前距下关节的检查作为常规检查的一部分，因为它可以显示临床上未被怀疑的 TCC。在术前评估中，需要通过 CT 或 MRI 来确认联合，以便更好地评估先天性异常的类型和程度以及相邻关节。
