Sixty-four feet of fifty-four patients treated with Batchelor's
extra-articular subtalar arthrodesis for poliomyelitic deformities were
reviewed after a minimum follow-up of four years. Early in the series the
results were poor because of inexperience with the technique and poor
selection of patients. The incidence of non-union, which appeared to be
high in this series compared with other series in which the Grice technique
was used, was attributed mainly to the more advanced age of our patients at
the time of arthrodesis (average age, 9.9 years). A common factor in the
cause of non-union was tightness of the heel cord. Redistribution of
muscles to balance power in the foot did not appear to be necessary to
achieve good results in feet with equinovalgus deformity, and conversely,
energetic redistribution of muscle power in these feet did not result in
late varus deformity.