Authors : Rajesh B Naik, Sherashah F Kammar, R Manikya
DOI : 10.22271/27078345.2024.v6.i2a.217
Volume : 6
Issue : 2
Year : 2024
Page No : 27-29
Abstract Fibrotic contracture of skeletal muscle can follow weeks or months after the severe ischemic insult of compartment syndrome. Commonly known as Volkmann's ischemic contracture (VIC), the affected limb often becomes dysfunctional and painful, and may lose sensibility. The pathogenesis of the muscle contracture includes prolonged ischemia, myonecrosis, fibroblastic proliferation, contraction of the cicatrix, and myotendinous adhesion formation. Resultant shortening or overpull of involved muscles in leg leads to ankle stiffness and equinus deformity Here we describe a case of 40-year-old male who had presented with severe rigid equinus deformity due to VIC following compartment syndrome 10 years back. We did distal fibular osteotomy, talectomy, tibiocalcaneal fusion using 3.5 Dynamic compression plates and screws, tibionavicular fusion using 4mm Cannulated Cancellous screw to achieve single-stage correction of the deformity. At One year follow- up, patient had painless, plantigrade foot, satisfactory aesthetic and functional outcome. Severe rigid ankle equinus deformity in adults can be corrected by midfoot osteotomies and/or gradual correction using external fixator in the absence of soft tissue contracture. When there is soft tissue contracture due to VIC, the deformity can be corrected by single stage surgery. The purpose of presenting this case report is to demonstrate and share satisfactory outcome of the same (single stage surgery) and thus avoiding the need of bulky external fixators for corrections. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle- Hindfoot Score pre-operatively it was 30% improved to 83% post-operatively.