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Skeletal Muscle Abnormalities and Genetic Factors Related to Vertical Talus

  • Clinical Research
  • Published:
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®

Abstract

Background/rationale

Congenital vertical talus is a fixed dorsal dislocation of the talonavicular joint and fixed equinus contracture of the hindfoot, causing a rigid deformity recognizable at birth. The etiology and epidemiology of this condition are largely unknown, but some evidence suggests it relates to aberrations of skeletal muscle. Identifying the tissue abnormalities and genetic causes responsible for vertical talus has the potential to lead to improved treatment and preventive strategies.

Questions/purposes

We therefore (1) determined whether skeletal muscle abnormalities are present in patients with vertical talus and (2) identified associated congenital anomalies and genetic abnormalities in these patients.

Methods

We identified associated congenital anomalies and genetic abnormalities present in 61 patients affected with vertical talus. We obtained abductor hallucis muscle biopsy specimens from the affected limbs of 11 of the 61 patients and compared the histopathologic characteristics with those of age-matched control subjects.

Results

All muscle biopsy specimens (n = 11) had abnormalities compared with those from control subjects including combinations of abnormal variation in muscle fiber size (n = 7), type I muscle fiber smallness (n = 6), and abnormal fiber type predominance (n = 5). Isolated vertical talus occurred in 23 of the 61 patients (38%), whereas the remaining 38 patients had associated nervous system, musculoskeletal system, and/or genetic and genomic abnormalities. Ten of the 61 patients (16%) had vertical talus in one foot and clubfoot in the other. Chromosomal abnormalities, all complete or partial trisomies, were identified in three patients with vertical talus who had additional congenital abnormalities.

Conclusions

Vertical talus is a heterogeneous birth defect resulting from many diverse etiologies. Abnormal skeletal muscle biopsies are common in patients with vertical talus although it is unclear whether this is primary or secondary to the joint deformity. Associated anomalies are present in 62% of all cases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 1 Children’s Place, Suite 4S-60, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA

    Laura J. Merrill BS, Christina A. Gurnett MD, PhD & Matthew B. Dobbs MD

  2. Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis , MO, USA

    Christina A. Gurnett MD, PhD, Anne M. Connolly MD & Alan Pestronk MD

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis , MO, USA

    Christina A. Gurnett MD, PhD

  4. St. Louis Shriners Hospital for Children, Frontenac, MI, USA

    Matthew B. Dobbs MD

Authors
  1. Laura J. Merrill BS
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  2. Christina A. Gurnett MD, PhD
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  3. Anne M. Connolly MD
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  4. Alan Pestronk MD
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  5. Matthew B. Dobbs MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthew B. Dobbs MD.

Additional information

One or more of the authors (LJM) has received funding from the National Center for Research Resources (TL1 RR024995) and HIN K12 (HD001459). The institution of one or more of the authors has received funding from The Children’s Discovery Institute (MBD, CAG), March of Dimes Basil O’Connor Starter Scholar Research Award (CAG), St Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation (MBD), Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (MBD), Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (MBD), and Shriners Hospital (MBD, CAG).

Each author certifies that his or her institution approved the human protocol for this investigation and that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study was obtained.

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Merrill, L.J., Gurnett, C.A., Connolly, A.M. et al. Skeletal Muscle Abnormalities and Genetic Factors Related to Vertical Talus. Clin Orthop Relat Res 469, 1167–1174 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-010-1475-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-010-1475-5

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