[Treatment of acute and chronic peroneal tendon disorders]

Peroneal tendon injuries are recognized with increasing frequency to be the cause of persistent lateral ankle symptoms. The lesions are frequently found in patients with concomitant anatomical or biomechanical abnormalities, such as chronic lateral instability or cavovarus deformity. The most common mechanism involves a sudden inversion injury or repetitive activities. Three categories of injuries can be distinguished: (1) tendinitis and tenosynovitis, (2) tendon subluxation and dislocation and (3) tendon tears and ruptures. Many of these conditions respond to conservative therapy. However, when left untreated, the disorders can lead to persistent lateral ankle pain and substantial functional deficits. This is particularly true in patients with an underlying anatomical predisposition to lesions.