The talocalcaneal coalition is best seen on which radiographic view?

The talocalcaneal coalition is best seen on which radiographic view?

• A. AP view
• B. Lateral view
• C. Medial oblique view
• D. Harris Beath view

Answer: (D)

Visualizing a talocalcaneal coalition relies on projecting the hindfoot so the subtalar joint is seen clearly and any bridging bone between talus and calcaneus stands out. The Harris-Beath view is a specialized hindfoot projection that angles and positions the foot to profile the subtalar joint, reducing overlap and making a coalition more conspicuous. Because of this alignment, a bony bridge between the talus and calcaneus—or a clear loss of the normal joint space—becomes much easier to detect than on standard views. While other views, like the lateral, can show clues such as the C-shaped contour suggestive of coalition, they are not as sensitive for identifying the coalition itself as the Harris-Beath projection. Thus, this view provides the best radiographic visualization for talocalcaneal coalition.

Visualizing a talocalcaneal coalition relies on projecting the hindfoot so the subtalar joint is seen clearly and any bridging bone between talus and calcaneus stands out. The Harris-Beath view is a specialized hindfoot projection that angles and positions the foot to profile the subtalar joint, reducing overlap and making a coalition more conspicuous. Because of this alignment, a bony bridge between the talus and calcaneus—or a clear loss of the normal joint space—becomes much easier to detect than on standard views. While other views, like the lateral, can show clues such as the C-shaped contour suggestive of coalition, they are not as sensitive for identifying the coalition itself as the Harris-Beath projection. Thus, this view provides the best radiographic visualization for talocalcaneal coalition.