Tibialis posterior tendon synovitis and rupture.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Anatomy
• Biomechanics

Background:

• The tibialis posterior muscle and tendon are crucial for hind foot stability.
• Tibialis posterior tendon rupture can lead to significant functional impairment and hind foot instability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the anatomy of the tibialis posterior.
• To review clinical and radiographic signs of tibialis posterior tendon rupture.
• To evaluate various operative techniques for tibialis posterior tendon rupture repair.

Main Methods:

• Anatomical description of the tibialis posterior.
• Review of clinical and radiographic diagnostic criteria for tendon rupture.
• Analysis of surgical techniques, including the Cobb method (tibialis anterior tendon transfer).

Main Results:

• The tibialis posterior is identified as the primary stabilizer of the hind foot.
• The Cobb method involves transferring half of the tibialis anterior tendon through the navicular bone to the proximal tibialis posterior tendon.
• The Cobb method demonstrated superior clinical outcomes compared to alternative surgical approaches.

Conclusions:

• Tibialis posterior tendon rupture requires effective surgical management for restoring hind foot stability.
• The Cobb surgical technique appears to be the most effective method for addressing tibialis posterior tendon ruptures, yielding superior results.