Open versus arthroscopic fusion of the subtalar joint: a randomized controlled trial

51 patients were included between 2013 and 2020, of whom 25 were allocated to open and 26 to arthroscopic fusion. 3 early complications (2 sural nerve lesions, 1 infection) occurred in the open fusion group (12%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3-32) and 3 (2 wound healing problems, 1 screw exchange) in the arthroscopic group (12%; CI 3-31). Late complications included screw removal (n = 5) in the open fusion group versus screw removal (n = 5), non-union (n = 2), bony prominence/calcification removal (n = 1), sural nerve lesion (n = 1), lesion of the calcaneal branch of the tibial nerve (n = 1), complex regional pain syndrome type II (n = 1), and secondary plantar fasciitis (n = 1) in the arthroscopic fusion group. No superiority of arthroscopic over open fusion was found regarding early (P = 1.0) and late complications (P = 0.2), function and pain scores, and patient satisfaction over 12 months Conclusion: Arthroscopic fusion did not result in fewer early complications compared with open fusion. Secondary outcomes did not differ significantly between the approaches.