During revision surgery, a 6.5mm cancellous cannulated screw was carefully positioned to guide docking, though the optimal tibial docking site remains uncertain—whether on the calcaneum alone or both the calcaneum and navicular. A new foot plate was attached, but the docking site was not modified per standard procedure.
Following resection of the distal tibia and talus due to chronic osteomyelitis, bone transport using a fine wire frame was performed. However, misalignment at the docking site became evident only after frame removal. A review of similar cases suggests that the commonly used “dynamisation” period may not be a reliable test for confirming bony healing.
Achieving accurate alignment in tibio-calcaneal fusion using a fine wire frame is a significant challenge. While past successes have relied on luck, recent failures prompted a reassessment of targeting methods. With limited imaging options, a 6.5mm cannulated cancellous screw is now being explored as a surgical target marker to improve precision.