Has anyone out there had a child with tarsal coalition?

Shelli - posted on 04/04/2013

Hi. My daughter was diagnosed with a tarsal coalition three years ago. She has had pain on and off and now she is 14. The coalition is bony now and she has a flat foot deformity. Docs say surgery is indicated only for pain relief. But one doc says shes in for arthritis later on. hard yo know what will happen. Her pain hasn't been that bad lately though she does have pain periodically when she walks for too long. My concern is that I read about people in their twenties tht have arthritis after havin a tc and they no longer have as many options. The surgery recommended is a resection and a flat foot correction which is huge. Any experience with this! I don't want to put her through this when her pain is "not that bad," but I'm concerned about the future. Many live with tc with no pain. How to know when and if its right to do the surgery? How to know if you wait you miss the "window" and set your kid up for u fixable problems later on? So many questions. So much uncertainty!

Deonna - posted on 03/05/2013

my daughter is 13 in April and has had pain for two years off and on. She feel and we went to the orthopedic for them to tell us the pain was from Tarsal Coalition. They casted her for 2 weeks he said then we would rexray and ct scan to see which kind she has. Is there a better kind to have? Luckily she only has it in her left foot. How is your son doing in recovery?

Leah - posted on 08/23/2012

My 15 year old son had surgery 3 weeks ago for a tarsal coalition. He had been in discomfort off and on for 5 years and never told me, despite being a very active and talented soccer player. Once the pain set in, it hit hard and fast and his right foot began to turn out to the right as the fusion of bones seemed to accelerate at an alarming rate. The cast came off yesterday and he is in severe pain, again. He is a junior in HS and has already missed almost 2 weeks of school. I'm thinking that I need to pull him out for another week with a lesson plan, so that he can begin adjusting to the pain. I met a mom in the waiting room at the hospital , whose daughter had a similar surgery and she told me that the real work begins after the cast comes off. That it was 6 months before her daughter was walking again, but that overall the surgery was a success. Her daughter had just had the other foot done. I wish that I had known about this condition in my son 4 years ago, as I think it would have been easier to go through as a younger person, vs. a 6'1" 15 year old who will not be able to learn to drive or participate in any physical activities as a junior in HS. The docs have told us that he will likely need a second surgery in 6-9 months, to correct his severe flat-foot which was a by-product of the coalition. If you catch this condition early, I would act early. If surgery is needed, I would do it, just ensuring that you have someone who is experienced with these surgeries. Teaching hospitals are always the best. San Diego Rady Childrens Hospital has an excellent group of orthopedic docs. Good luck to all.

Paula - posted on 10/25/2011

Brenda,

My son is 11 years old. He was limping with pain since last spring. After a few months of this, we took him to a podiatrist who referred him to a orthopedic surgeon. They suggested surgery. I was also torn about surgery. I tried taking him to a chiropractor for a few months. I also took him to physical therapy for a month. The physical therapist said he felt that my son really needed the surgery. It was heartbreaking for me to see him in pain and limping. I really wanted to avoid surgery, but I just felt it was the right thing to do. I understand what you are going through. It was very hard on my family emotionally.



My son was starting to limp so bad that it was causing him to have pain in his hips and his other foot.



Today he said he really didn't need any pain medicine at all and he is walking without crutches with a boot on. His surgery was only a little over two weeks ago. His surgeon said she doesn't think he will need anymore surgeries. His foot is still growing though and there is a chance that the coalition could come back. So we are just going to keep an eye on it.



It was a very hard decision for me to make, but at this point I think I made the right decision. I hope that my advice helps.



I am deeply grateful that he is doing so well!! He says he is in less pain than before the surgery and that is great for me to hear. Please let me know if you have any more questions.

Brenda - posted on 10/25/2011

PAULA- Thanks for the reply. This has hit us so quickly, it is great to hear from some one who has been through this.
So glad that you son is doing well! Only a week in a cast is great! So is his reduction in pain. Can I ask a few questions: how old your son is? for how long was he experiencing pain? I am so torn about surgery...i have read all about the debilitating complications that this condition can cause later in life...but my son is very active (hockey and lacrosse) with no pain at all. We brought him in to the podiatrist because of his ridiculously flat feet.. even though seem to cause him no problems....now a week later we are facing surgery on both feet!
Sorry for the long post... it is just great to connect with someone who has been through this.

Paula - posted on 10/25/2011

Hi Brenda,
My son had surgery on October 7th. The first day after surgery he was in some pain, but the pain medicine helped with that. He wore a cast for a week and is now in a walking boot. He can walk around the house without any crutches. So far, his pain has not been very much. Before surgery his pain was a 3 out of 10. Now he says his pain is a 1 out of 10. He is on pain meds, but he rarely says he needs them. He started Physical therapy yesterday. I will keep you posted on how his recovery goes. There is a facebook page about tarsal coalition if you would like to talk to other moms about the it. Please keep in touch with me to let me know how both you and your son are doing.

Brenda - posted on 10/25/2011

PAULA LEE - Just found your post... my son (10 years old) just was diagnosed yesterday with tarsal coalition in both feet (ugh!) ...surgery is the recommended course of treatment. I would love to find out how your son made out with his surgery. Hope he is well.