Congenital diastasis of the inferior tibiofibular joint: a review of the literature and report of two cases.

Congenital inferior tibiofibular diastasis is a rare condition of unknown etiology, possibly a form of tibial hypoplasia, marked by a clinical triad of talipes equinovarus, ankle diastasis, and limb length inequality. An analysis of 10 cases reported previously is given with two additional examples. Ankle mortise reconstitution and clubfoot correction by surgery have been the basis of treatment. We present two cases in which no ankle reconstruction was done with good results. Syme amputation is considered for cases with severe tibial shortening. Prognosis for a plantigrade foot is encouraging if limb length inequality is corrected operatively or non-operatively as indicated.