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Peroneal tendon tears: a retrospective review
Michael F Dombek1, Bradley M Lamm, Karl Saltrick
1Division of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA. mendo@faiwp.com
Summary
Surgical repair of peroneal tendon tears effectively treats chronic lateral ankle pain. Most patients regain full activity with few significant complications after addressing coexisting injuries.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Sports Medicine
- Anatomy
Background:
- Peroneal tendon tears are a frequent cause of chronic lateral ankle pain.
- These injuries are often underdiagnosed and undertreated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the typical patient profile and injury characteristics.
- To analyze treatment outcomes and complication rates for surgical peroneal tendon repair.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 40 patients undergoing peroneal tendon repair.
- Evaluation of medical records, surgical reports, and radiographs over a 3-year period.
Main Results:
- The average patient age was 42; common causes included ankle sprains.
- Peroneus brevis tears were most frequent (88%), often with coexisting pathologies.
- 98% returned to full activity; minor complications were 20%, major complications 10%.
Conclusions:
- Peroneal tendon tears frequently coexist with lateral ankle ligamentous incompetence and low-lying peroneal muscle bellies.
- Surgical repair of peroneal tendon tears and associated pathologies leads to successful outcomes.
- Appropriate surgical intervention offers predictable results with a low rate of significant complications.