Tendoscopic groove deepening for chronic subluxation of the peroneal tendons

Recurrent subluxation of the peroneal tendons over the lateral malleolus is an uncommon disabling condition in young people involved in sports. Injury to the superior peroneal retinaculum, sometimes in association with a shallow fibular groove, can lead to this condition. There are several surgical treatments for recurrent peroneal tendon subluxation, but no tendoscopy technique has been reported to date. The aim of this study was to describe a tendoscopic groove-deepening technique and its results for treating patients with recurrent subluxation of the peroneal tendons.

Seven patients (3 women and 4 men; mean age 26.4 [21-32] years) with chronic subluxation of the peroneal tendons were treated with a tendoscopic procedure. All patients experienced pain at the lateral retromalleolar area and recurrent subluxation of the peroneal tendons. The right ankle was affected in 4 patients. Mean follow-up was 15.4 (8-25) months.

On tendoscopic examination, all patients had a flat fibular groove, and the superior peroneal retinaculum was found to be detached in 4 cases. Three patients had a superficial injury of the peroneus brevis tendon which was debrided. Tendoscopic deepening of the peroneal groove without superior peroneal retinaculum repair was performed in all cases. None of the patients experienced recurrent subluxation during follow-up. The AOFAS score increased from 75 preoperatively to 93 at final follow-up. No complications were reported in any case.

Tendoscopic deepening of the fibular groove was a reproducible, minimally invasive technique that provided a favorable outcome for recurrent subluxation of the peroneal tendons in our limited number of patients.

Level IV, retrospective case series.