Joint Sparing Correction of Cavovarus Feet in Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease What Are the Limits?

Foot deformity in the patient with CMT disease frequently presents in the young patient, with symptoms such as abnormal gait, forefoot pain, ankle instability, and changing foot posture. Due to the poor outcomes associated with both nonoperative management and triple arthrodesis, joint sparing surgery is the preferable treatment option. Numerous surgical procedures have been described, all with the aim of achieving a plantigrade and balanced foot. The surgery must be tailored to the requirements of the individual patient and involves a combination of soft-tissue releases, tendon transfers, and osteotomies. The outcomes reported in the literature are variable, but suggest that joint sparing surgery in the young patient with CMT disease is a viable and a preferable alternative to triple arthrodesis.