Pain in the posterior aspect of the ankle in dancers. Differential diagnosis and operative treatment.

A retrospective review was performed of the results of operative treatment of stenosing tenosynovitis of the flexor hallucis longus tendon or posterior impingement syndrome, or both, in thirty-seven dancers (forty-one operations). The average duration of follow-up was seven years (range, two to thirteen years). The results were assessed with use of a questionnaire for all patients, and a clinical evaluation was performed for twenty-one patients (twenty-two ankles). Twenty-six operations were performed for tendinitis and posterior impingement; nine, for isolated tendinitis; and six, for isolated posterior impingement syndrome. A medial incision was used in thirty-three procedures; a lateral incision, in six; an anterior and a medial incision, in one; and a lateral and a medial incision, in one. Thirty ankles had a good or excellent result; six, a fair result; and four, a poor result. (The result of the second procedure on an ankle that was operated on twice was not included.) The result was good or excellent for twenty-eight of the thirty-four ankles in professional dancers, compared with only two of the six ankles in amateur dancers.

Painful os peroneum syndrome: a spectrum of conditions responsible for plantar lateral foot pain.

Plantar lateral foot pain may be caused by various entities and the painful os peroneum syndrome (a term coined by the authors) should be included in the differential diagnosis. Painful os peroneum syndrome results from a spectrum of conditions that includes one or more of the following: (1) an acute os peroneum fracture or a diastasis of a multipartite os peroneum, either of which may result in a discontinuity of the peroneus longus tendon; (2) chronic (healing or healed) os peroneum fracture or diastasis of a multipartite os peroneum with callus formation, either of which results in a stenosing peroneus longus tenosynovitis; (3) attrition or partial rupture of the peroneus longus tendon, proximal or distal to the os peroneum; (4) frank rupture of the peroneus longus tendon with discontinuity proximal or distal to the os peroneum; and/or (5) the presence of a gigantic peroneal tubercle on the lateral aspect of the calcaneus which entraps the peroneus longus tendon and/or the os peroneum during tendon excursion. Familiarity with the various clinical and radiographic findings and the spectrum of conditions represented by the painful os peroneum syndrome can prevent prolonged undiagnosed plantar lateral foot pain. Clinical diagnosis of the painful os peroneum syndrome can be facilitated by the single stance heel rise and varus inversion stress test as well as by resisted plantarflexion of the first ray, which can localize tenderness along the distal course of the peroneus longus tendon at the cuboid tunnel.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Gross, histological, and microvascular anatomy and biomechanical testing of the spring ligament complex.

In recent years there has been an increased interest in the treatment of acquired pes planus. The breakdown of the medial longitudinal arch is most often seen at the talonaviculocalcaneal articulation. This suggests a relationship between the ligamentous complex at this articulation and acquired pes planus. This study was undertaken to gain a better understanding of the gross, histologic, and microvascular anatomy, as well as the biomechanics of the ligamentous structures surrounding the talonaviculocalcaneal articulation. Cadaver dissections of 38 fresh-frozen feet were performed. Detailed descriptions of the gross anatomy of the superomedial calcaneonavicular ligament, inferior calcaneonavicular ligament, and the superficial deltoid ligament were recorded. Their relationships to the posterior tibialis tendon and to the bones of the talonaviculocalcaneal articulation are described. The histology and microvascularity of these structures were also studied. Preliminary biomechanical testing was performed. It was found there are two definitive anatomic structures that are commonly called the spring ligament: the superomedial calcaneonavicular ligament (SMCN) and the inferior calcaneonavicular ligament (ICN). The SMCN ligament was found to have histologic properties that suggest significant load bearing. The histology of the ICN ligament suggests a pure tensile load function. The deltoid ligament and the posterior tibialis tendon had direct attachments to the SMCN ligament in all specimens. An articular facet composed of fibrocartilage was found in each SMCN ligament specimen. The microvascular structures showed an avascular articular facet present in the ligament. The biomechanical testing showed that the SMCN ligament and ICN ligament had strength similar to ankle ligaments. This study suggests this "spring ligament complex" has more of a "sling" function for the talar head. It is hoped that the better understanding of this region will add to our understanding of the etiology of pes planus and possible treatment alternatives.

Management of heel pain in the inflammatory arthritides.

Subcalcaneal pain is a common complaint presented to the orthopaedist. Excessive attention to mechanical or traumatic causes may result in an improper diagnosis if rheumatologic or systemic conditions are not considered in the differential diagnosis. Systemic conditions associated with heel pain are reviewed and a conservative treatment protocol is presented that should help to obtain a correct diagnosis and to lead to effective management of this common condition.

Microvasculature of the tibialis anterior tendon.

Subcutaneous rupture of the tibialis anterior tendon is an uncommon condition for which the etiology is unclear. The existence of a hypovascular zone has been proposed as an etiology for rupture of the tibialis anterior tendon. To investigate this possibility, the microvascular anatomy of the tibialis anterior tendon was studied using a modified Spalteholz technique. The vascular supply to the tibialis anterior tendon arises from proximal and distal ventral vinculae. Muscular branches of the anterior tibial artery, proximally, and the medial tarsal arteries, distally, form an intratendinous, longitudinal, competent blood supply. The tendon also receives a rich vascular blood supply from the synovial sheath. The blood supply appears adequate throughout the course of the tibialis anterior tendon, and no hypovascular region was noted at the common site of rupture 1 to 3 cm proximal to its insertion. No relationship was noted between increasing age and alteration in blood supply.

Chronic ankle instability as a cause of peroneal tendon injury.

Chronic lateral ankle pain and instability can be associated with a split in the peroneus brevis tendon. This case reports a peroneus brevis split that was centered over the sharp posterior edge of the fibula and was associated with laxity of the superior peroneal retinaculum, and chronic ankle instability. The mechanism of the split was easily demonstrated during surgery by everting the foot and pulling longitudinally on the peroneus longus tendon. The interrelationship of lateral ankle instability with superior retinacular laxity and resultant peroneus brevis splits can account for posttraumatic lateral ankle pain. Surgical treatment must identify and correct the underlying pathology and should attempt to repair or debride the peroneus brevis tendon, reconstruct the superior peroneal retinaculum, flatten the posterior edge of the fibula by removing the sharp bony prominence, and address any associated lateral ankle instability with either a modified Chrisman-Snook, Anderson, or modified Brostrom-Gould procedure.

Lateral ankle instability as a cause of superior peroneal retinacular laxity: an anatomic and biomechanical study of cadaveric feet.

The role of the competent superior peroneal retinaculum (SPR) as a primary restraint to peroneal tendon subluxation and mechanical attritional wear is clear. Injury to the SPR has classically been described as a dorsiflexion eversion movement of the ankle coupled with a forceful peroneal tendon reflex contraction. This mechanism, however, does not cause injury to the lateral collateral ligaments of the ankle and does not explain the coexistent findings of lateral ankle instability, laxity of the SPR, and concurrent peroneal tendon pathology. Anatomic studies reveal a parallel alignment of the calcaneal band of the SPR and the calcaneofibular ligament. A cadaveric model of ankle instability created by serial sectioning of the lateral collateral ligaments revealed increasing visual strain on the SPR with increasing degrees of ankle instability. These findings suggest the SPR serves as a secondary restraint to ankle inversion stress and that the force or forces that result in chronic ankle instability can also injure and attenuate the superior peroneal retinaculum.

Microvascular anatomy of the peroneal tendons.

The etiology of longitudinal splitting of the peroneus brevis tendon is unclear. It has been hypothesized that compressive load applied to the tendon as it passes through the fibular groove may compromise the vascularity of the tendon with resultant inhibition of the repair response and degeneration of tendon structure. To investigate this possibility, a study of the microvascularity of the peroneal tendons was undertaken. Twelve fresh, frozen cadaveric limbs were injected with India ink. The vascularity of the peroneal tendons was examined in situ and the tendons were harvested and cleared using a modified Spalteholz technique. The vascularity of the cleared tendons was evaluated utilizing a dissecting microscope. The vascular supply of the peroneal tendons arises from two posterolateral vincula, one for the peroneus longus tendon and one for the peroneus brevis tendon. These vincula are supplied by branches of the posterior peroneal artery. A zone of hypovascularity within the peroneus brevis or peroneus longus tendon correlating with the site of peroneus brevis splits was not found. There was no relationship between increasing age of specimens and alteration in vascular supply.

The dynamics of peroneus brevis tendon splits: a proposed mechanism, technique of diagnosis, and classification of injury.

The etiology of peroneus brevis splits is unclear. Because longitudinal splits in the peroneus brevis tendon do not necessarily effect the integrity or strength of the tendon, it is difficult to ascertain whether or not injury to the peroneus brevis tendon is present. Recent clinical, anatomic, and histologic reports have suggested that the split develops from prolonged mechanical attrition within the fibular groove as a result of ankle trauma with resultant lateral ankle instability and incompetency of the superior peroneal retinaculum with resultant subluxation of the peroneal tendons. This cascade of events may result in splitting of the peroneus brevis tendon. The purpose of this paper was to report the investigation of the mechanism by which peroneus brevis splits develop, to describe a technique of diagnosis, and to propose a classification of injury. Peroneus brevis splits are the result of a dynamic mechanical insult at the fibular groove. Laxity of the superior peroneal retinaculum combined with peroneus longus mechanical compression causes the peroneus brevis to splay out and eventually split over the sharp posterior edge of the fibula. Anatomic factors, such as a shallow fibular groove (congenital convex groove) or the presence of an anomalous low-lying peroneus brevis muscle belly or peroneus quartus tendon, may also play a role in this mechanism by interfering with the competence of the superior peroneal retinaculum.