Tarsal Coalition
Tarsal coalition is an abnormal connection between bones in the foot that can cause pain, stiffness, or repeated sprains.
When to get help quickly: It is not usually urgent, but earlier review helps if pain is limiting walking, sprains keep happening, or symptoms are affecting a child or teenager’s activity level.
Common symptoms
Symptoms can include pain or stiffness around the back or middle of the foot, flat feet, repeated ankle sprains, and pain that gets worse with activity.
When imaging helps
Imaging helps confirm that foot bones are abnormally connected and shows whether the bridge is bony, fibrous, or cartilaginous.
What radiology does
X-rays, CT, and MRI can help show whether the connection is bony, fibrous, or cartilaginous.
What usually happens next
Treatment may include activity modification, orthotics, physiotherapy, or surgery depending on symptoms and severity.
Seen this on your report?
Your doctor or the radiologist who wrote it can tell you what it means for you.