The prevalence of tarsal tunnel syndrome in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy.

PURPOSE: Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is a painful foot condition. Lumbosacral radiculopathy (LR) may also present with symptoms occurring in TTS. However, no studies have been reported to determine the possible coexistence of these two conditions. The aim of our study was to identify the prevalence of TTS in patients with confirmed LR and to analyze the clinical and electrodiagnostic features of patients with both TTS and LR. METHODS: Medial and lateral plantar nerve mixed studies, peroneal motor studies and deep peroneal sensory studies were performed in 81 normal subjects and 561 patients with LR. The Tinel's test and other provocative tests were performed in the LR patient group, and the clinical symptoms of TTS were also analyzed. The frequency of TTS was investigated in all radiculopathy group patients with different nerve root lesions. RESULTS: Concomitant TTS was found in 27 (4.8%) patients with LR. Abnormal results of sensory/mixed conduction tests were observed in 25/27 (92.6%) patients, and 11/27 (40.7%) patients had abnormal results of motor conduction tests. Positivity for the Tinel's test and special provocative tests was found in 15/27 (55.6%) and 17/27 (63.0%) patients, respectively. Overall, 9/27 (33.3%) patients had typical symptoms, and suspicious clinical symptoms were found in the other 14/27 (51.9%) patients. The frequency of coexisting TTS was not statistically different among the single-level L4, L5 or S1 radiculopathy, or between the single-level and multi-level radiculopathies (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the prevalence of TTS is significant in patients with LR. Thus, more caution should be paid when diagnosing and managing patients with LR due to the possible existence of TTS, as their management strategies are quite different.

Accessory Soleus: A Case Report of Exertional Compartment and Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Associated With an Accessory Soleus Muscle.

An accessory soleus muscle is a rare anatomic variant that frequently presents as an asymptomatic soft tissue swelling in the posteromedial ankle. Less frequently, the anomalous muscle can cause pain and swelling with activity. We present the case of a 17-year-old male with exertional compartment syndrome and associated tarsal tunnel syndrome secondary to a very large accessory soleus muscle. After surgical excision, the patient was able to return to full activity with complete resolution of symptoms.

The accessory deep peroneal nerve and anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome: case report.

The accessory deep peroneal (ADPN) nerve has been regarded as an anomalous nerve derived from the superficial peroneal nerve or its branch and supplies motor innervations for extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) and sensory innervations for the lateral part of the ankle and foot regions. The EDB is usually innervated exclusively by the deep peroneal nerve, a major branch of the the common peroneal nerve, however, in as many as 28% of patients (with same male/female frequency), one or both of the EDB muscles are (partially or exclusively) innervated by the ADPN nerve. This anomaly appears to be inherited in autosomal dominant fashion with incomplete gene penetrance. ADPN existence is of great clinical and surgical importance, and the aim of this study is to describe a very rare case of coexistence ADPN and anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome.

Medial ankle and heel: ultrasound evaluation and sonographic appearances of conditions causing symptoms.

The complex anatomy of the medial ankle and hindfoot can make clinical assessment of medial ankle and heel pain challenging. Ultrasound is an accessible, relatively inexpensive modality, and modern high-resolution probes allow eloquent demonstration of the main structures that are implicated as potential causes of medial ankle pain. In this work we review highlights the clinically relevant anatomy and normal sonographic appearances of structures around the medial ankle and heel and discuss key techniques to allow optimal ultrasound assessment. The conditions that cause medial-sided ankle and heel symptoms are discussed with their characteristic sonographic appearances.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome caused by posterior facet talocalcaneal coalition: A case report.

RATIONALE: Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is a compressive neuropathy of the posterior tibial nerve and its branches. Tarsal coalition is defined as a fibrous, cartilaginous, or osseous bridging of 2 or more tarsal bones. TTS with tarsal coalition is uncommon. Here, we present a rare example of successful surgical management of TTS with posterior facet talocalcaneal coalition. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 74-year-old woman presented with hypoesthesia, numbness, and an intermittent tingling sensation on the plantar area over the right forefoot to the middle foot area. The hypoesthesia and paresthesia of the right foot began 6 years previously and were severe along the lateral plantar aspect. The symptoms were mild at rest and increased during daily activities. Tinel sign was positive along the posteroinferior aspect of the medial malleolus. DIAGNOSIS: Lateral ankle radiography showed joint-space narrowing and sclerotic bony changes with a deformed C-sign and humpback sign. Oblique coronal and sagittal computed tomography revealed an irregular medial posterior facet, partial coalition, narrowing, and subcortical cyst formation of the posterior subtalar joint. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an abnormal posterior talocalcaneal coalition compressing the posterior tibia nerve. Electromyography and nerve conduction velocity studies were performed, and the findings indicated that there was an incomplete lesion of the right plantar nerve, especially of the lateral plantar nerve, around the ankle level. INTERVENTIONS: Surgical decompression was performed. Intraoperatively, the lateral plantar nerve exhibited fibrotic changes and tightening below the posterior facet talocalcaneal coalition. The coalition was excised, and the lateral plantar nerve was released with soft-tissue dissection. OUTCOMES: The patient's symptoms of tingling sensation and hypoesthesia were almost relieved at 4 months postoperatively, but she complained of paresthesia with an itching sensation when the skin of the plantar area was touched. The paresthesia had disappeared almost completely at 8 months after surgery. She had no recurrence of symptoms at the 1-year follow-up. LESSONS: The TTS with tarsal coalition is rare. Supportive history and physical examination are essential for diagnosis. Plain radiographs and computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging are helpful to determine the cause of TTS and verify the tarsal coalition. After diagnosis, surgical excision of the coalition may be appropriate for management with a good outcome.

Peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the medial plantar nerve without tarsal tunnel syndrome: a case report.

UNLABELLED: Peripheral nerve sheath tumors are relatively uncommon soft tissue tumors, and the incidence of peripheral nerve sheath tumors localized to the plantar surface of the foot, without symptoms of tarsal tunnel syndrome, is even more rare. In this report, we present the rare case of a patient with a peripheral nerve sheath tumor originating from the medial plantar nerve in the plantar vault. The tumor was enucleated and fully excised under microscopic inspection using fine-tipped instrumentation, without en bloc resection of the associated nerve trunk. Surgeons should consider peripheral nerve sheath tumor as a cause of plantar foot pain, despite the rarity of this disorder. LEVEL OF CLINICAL EVIDENCE: 4.

[Assessing the treatment for sacroiliac joint dysfunction, piriformis syndrome and tarsal tunnel syndrome associated with lumbar degenerative disease].

OBJECTIVE: Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dysfunction, piriformis syndrome (PFS) and tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) produce symptoms similar to lumbar degenerative disease (LDD). Patients who have these diseases plus LDD sometimes experience residual symptoms after surgery for LDD. We therefore assessed the results of treatment of SIJ dysfunction, PFS and TTS associated with LDD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We assessed 25 patients who underwent surgery for LDD and were affected with SIJ dysfunction (12 patients), PFS (7 patients) or TTS (6 patients). SIJ dysfunction was treated with rest, drugs, pelvic band and sacroiliac joint block. PFS was treated with rest, drugs, physical exercise, injection of local anesthetic into the piriformis muscle, and surgical resection of the piriformis muscle. TTS was treated with drugs and tarsal tunnel opening. We analyzed the improvement score and recovery rate (JOA score) for both LDD surgery and the treatment of SIJ dysfunction, PFS and TTS. RESULTS: Symptom improvement was observed in all patients with SIJ dysfunction and PFS and in 4 patients with TTS. The improvement score and recovery rate of treatments for SIJ dysfunction, PFS and TTS were lower than those of surgery for LDD. CONCLUSION: The improvement score and recovery rate of treatment for SIJ dysfunction, PFS and TTS were not as high as those for LDD. To enhance patient satisfaction, it is important to consider these complicating diseases when designing treatments for LDD.

Biomechanical evaluation of two clinical tests for plantar heel pain: the dorsiflexion-eversion test for tarsal tunnel syndrome and the windlass test for plantar fasciitis.

BACKGROUND: Plantar heel pain may result from several conditions such as tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) and plantar fasciitis. The dorsiflexion-eversion test is used to diagnose TTS, whereas the windlass test is used for plantar fasciitis. Given the similarity between both tests, the purpose of this study was to evaluate whether these tests are able to selectively load the structures which they aim to examine. METHODS: Both tests were evaluated in six cadavers by measuring strain in the plantar fascia, tibial nerve, lateral plantar nerve (LPN), and medial plantar nerve (MPN) using miniature displacement transducers. Longitudinal excursion of the nerves was measured with a digital caliper. RESULTS: With the dorsiflexion-eversion test, dorsiflexion and eversion of the ankle in combination with extension of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints significantly increased strain in the tibial nerve (+1.1%), LPN (+2.2%), and MPN (+3.3%) but also in the plantar fascia (+1.2%) (all: p=0.016). Both components (dorsiflexion-eversion and MTP extension) resulted in significant increases. With the windlass test, extension of all MTP joints significantly increased strain in the plantar fascia (+0.4%, p=0.016), but also in the tibial nerve (+0.4%, p=0.016), LPN (+0.8%, p=0.032) and MPN (+2.0%, p=0.016). Excursion of the nerves was always in the distal direction but only reached significance for the tibial nerve (6.9 mm, p=0.016) and LPN (2.2 mm, p=0.032) during the dorsiflexion-eversion test. CONCLUSIONS: Both tests mechanically challenge various structures that have been associated with plantar heel pain. This questions the usefulness of the tests in the differential diagnosis of plantar heel pain.

Medial calcaneal neuropathy: A rare cause of prolonged heel pain.

Pain heel constitutes 15% of foot pain. Pain may be caused by plantar fasciitis, calcaneal fractures, calcaneal apophysitis, heel pad atrophy, inflammatory diseases or related with nerve involvement. Tibial, plantar and/or medial nerve entrapment are the neural causes of pain. Most of the heel soft tissue sensation is provided by medial calcaneal nerve. Diagnosis of heel pain due to neural causes depends on history and a careful examination. Surgery should not be undertaken before excluding other causes of heel pain. Diagnosis should be reconsidered following conservative therapy.

Uridine monophosphate, folic acid and vitamin B12 in patients with symptomatic peripheral entrapment neuropathies.

BACKGROUND: Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common type of peripheral entrapment neuropathy. PATIENTS & METHODS: We performed an exploratory, open-label, multicenter, observational study of 48 patients with peripheral entrapment neuropathy. Patients received a daily capsule of uridine monophosphate, folic acid + vitamin B12 for 2 months and were evaluated using the Pain DETECT questionnaire. RESULTS: The global score for pain decreased from 17.3 ± 5.9 at baseline to 10.3 ± 6.1 at the final evaluation (p < 0.001). Concomitant analgesic and anti-inflammatory treatment was stopped or the dose reduced in 77.4% of patients. CONCLUSION: Uridine monophosphate + folic acid + vitamin B12 reduced total pain score, intensity and characterization of pain and associated symptoms. These results should be tested in a well-designed, adequately powered randomized controlled trial.

[Treatment of neurological component of venous insufficiency of the lower extremities].

Based on a personal experience of the treatment of venous insufficiency of low extremities, was selected a group of 31 patients from 167 patients with trophic disorders resulted from venous insufficiency of low extremities. The patients of the selected group had along typical venous insufficiency related symptoms a neurological syndrome which was typical for the tarsal canal. Neurological disorders in 26 patients may be caused by a long persisting ulcer and chronic regional inflammation against venous hypertension. The syndrome of the tarsal canal in 5 patients may develop as recurrence of venous disease following the surgical operation after Linton. The patients of the selected group underwent final correction of venous hemodynamics, decompression and neurolysis of posterior tibial nerve in the tarsal canal.

Treatment of anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome through an endoscopic or open technique.

Anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome is often underdiagnosed, due to lack of clinical awareness and vague clinical presentation. Most often patients complain of pain located to the dorsum of the foot. The present study is a consecutive series of 13 patients treated according to a fixed protocol followed for a minimum of 24 months. A total of 12/13 cases presented with a bulge in the anterior part of the ankle or the dorsal foot and Tinel's sign was positive over it. Only half had decreased sensation. Surgical technique was either endoscopic or open. Endoscopy is preferable when compression is due to an osteophyte (4/13) or an isolated ganglion 2/13). In other cases presenting with synovitis (5/13) or unknown etiology (2/13) performing open surgery was deemed as safer. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot scores improved from an average of 55 ± 8 to 83 ± 11 at 12 months after surgery and 88 ± 10 at 24 months after surgery. The anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome accounts for approximately 5% of cases complaining of feet numbness, which undergo electromyographic and nerve conduction testing. Reports in the scientific literature are scarce, perhaps due to underdiagnosis, while it is amenable to surgical management. Clinical diagnosis supported by imaging studies demonstrated osteophytes, ganglions or localized synovitis. Endoscopic treatment can be performed safely provided a clear-cut single compressing element is identified.

Entrapment Neuropathies of the Foot and Ankle.

Posterior tarsal tunnel syndrome is the result of compression of the posterior tibial nerve. Anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome (entrapment of the deep peroneal nerve) typically presents with pain radiating to the first dorsal web space. Distal tarsal tunnel syndrome results from entrapment of the first branch of the lateral plantar nerve and is often misdiagnosed initially as plantar fasciitis. Medial plantar nerve compression is seen most often in running athletes, typically with pain radiating to the medial arch. Morton neuroma is often seen in athletes who place their metatarsal arches repetitively in excessive hyperextension.

Evaluation and treatment of chronic ankle pain.

The evaluation and treatment of chronic ankle pain presents a challenge to the orthopaedic surgeon. A detailed history helps to determine causative factors resulting from earlier trauma or surgery. A careful physical examination and radiographic studies also are helpful in making an accurate diagnosis, which is the basis for choosing a specific and effective treatment regimen.

Soft-tissue injuries of the lower extremity.

A diverse set of conditions affect the lower extremities in athletes. Good history taking and knowledge of the anatomy of the affected areas can aid in accurate diagnosis. Most conditions can be treated conservatively with great success. Familiarity with rehabilitation strategies can assist physicians in working with physical therapists. New advances, especially in the therapy of plantar fasciitis, may aid physicians in more rapid treatment of conditions of overuse. Surgery can provide definitive relief from symptoms for athletes with whom conservative measures have failed.

Outcome of surgical treatment of tarsal tunnel syndrome.

One hundred and eight ankles in 72 patients were evaluated from July 1986 to July 1997 with clinical findings and positive electrodiagnostic studies of tarsal tunnel syndrome. Clinical data included physical findings, subjective complaints, duration of symptoms, trauma history, steroid injections, nonsteroidal use and workman's compensation involvement. Associated medical conditions included diabetes, back pain and arthritis. Sixty-two patients underwent tarsal tunnel release, with 13 of them bilateral. There were 44 females and 18 males, 35 right feet and 40 left feet. The average age was 49 years. Preoperative symptom duration was 31 months. Average length of follow-up was 58 months. Average time for return to usual activity was nine months. All patients had at least a 12-month follow-up, and compared with both (Maryland Foot Score) MFS and AOFAS postoperative scores. Preoperative MFS scores obtained prior to 1994, were 61/100 (average), and postoperative MFS scores were 80/100 (average). Postoperative AOFAS scores were 80/100 (average). Patients with symptoms less than one year had postoperative MFS/AOFAS scores significantly higher than those with symptoms greater than one year. The most common surgical findings included arterial vascular leashes indenting the nerve and scarring about the nerve. Varicosities and space occupying lesions were present also. The outcome of surgery was not affected by the presence or absence of trauma. Patients with tarsal tunnel syndrome warrant surgery when significant symptoms do not respond to conservative management. Meticulous surgical technique must be followed. Improvement in foot scores is predictable even when a discrete space-occupying lesion is not present and when symptoms have been present for periods of greater than one year.

An outcomes analysis of surgical treatment of tarsal tunnel syndrome.

Sixty patients (68 feet) underwent tarsal tunnel release for the tarsal tunnel syndrome and were re-examined objectively and clinically after they had reached maximum medical benefits and returned to their usual and customary lifestyle and employment. All of the patients demonstrated both a positive tinel sign and an abnormal motor nerve conduction velocity measurement. As determined objectively, there was 85% complete symptom relief. As determined subjectively, there was 51% symptom relief. Additionally, there was significant improvement in the quality of work, job productivity, and interpersonal relationships. There was a clinical dichotomy, however, between the objective pain relief measurement in contrast to the subjective patient's assessment.

Neurilemmoma in the foot as a cause of heel pain: a report of two cases.

Two cases of deep-seated neurilemmoma that arose from plantar branches of the posterior tibial nerve and caused chronic heel pain are described. At the initial examination, one case was misdiagnosed as tarsal tunnel syndrome and the other was overlooked as plantar fasciitis; both cases were treated for long periods prior to operation. Deep-seated neurilemmomas in the foot can easily be overlooked and misdiagnosed as tarsal tunnel syndrome or plantar fasciitis because of the rarity, absence of palpable mass, and similarity of symptoms to those of other frequently encountered foot disorders. Magnetic resonance imaging provides the best modality for differential diagnosis. In the present cases, surgical excision of the tumors resulted in immediate and complete relief of chronic heel pain. Surgeons should consider neurilemmoma as a cause of persistent chronic heel pain despite the rarity of the disease.

Heel pain triad (HPT): the combination of plantar fasciitis, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction and tarsal tunnel syndrome.

Between 1996 and 1999, we evaluated 286 patients with chronic heel pain. We identified 14 patients who were diagnosed and surgically treated for a unique combination of plantar fasciitis, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction and tarsal tunnel syndrome. We postulate that failure of the static (plantar fascia) and dynamic (posterior tibial tendon) support of the longitudinal arch of the foot has resulted in traction injury to the posterior tibial nerve, i.e., tarsal tunnel syndrome. The combination of plantar fasciitis, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction and tarsal tunnel syndrome was recognized and treated. We have called this combination the "Heel Pain Triad (HPT)." Using the AOFAS hindfoot rating system, retrospective chart review and patient examination revealed marked improvement in 85.7% of patients. Follow-up was done four to 33 months (mean follow-up was 17.1 months). Marked improvement was noted in the categories of pain, activity level, walking distance, walking surface and limp. Improvement was statistically significant for all categories.