The relationship of tarsal coalitions to ankle sprains in athletes*

A review of charts and x-ray films of individuals who sustained ankle sprains was carried out to determine the presence of calcaneonavicular coalition. Coali-tions were present in 63 % of 215 patients with 223 ankle sprains. In 130 ankle sprains recorded as oc-curring directly in athletics, 65 % of the x-ray films showed some degree of calcaneal navicular abnor-mality. This study found a much higher percentage of coalitions than anticipated in either the general pop-ulation or the injured athletic population and rein-forced the belief that there may be an underlying anatomic predisposition to ankle sprains. Although known since the early 1800s, tarsal coalitions were not associated with any pathologic condition until Sloma