Treatment of anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome through an endoscopic or open technique

Anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome is often underdiagnosed, due to lack of clinical awareness and vague clinical presentation. Most often patients complain of pain located to the dorsum of the foot. The present study is a consecutive series of 13 patients treated according to a fixed protocol followed for a minimum of 24 months. A total of 12/13 cases presented with a bulge in the anterior part of the ankle or the dorsal foot and Tinel's sign was positive over it. Only half had decreased sensation. Surgical technique was either endoscopic or open. Endoscopy is preferable when compression is due to an osteophyte (4/13) or an isolated ganglion 2/13). In other cases presenting with synovitis (5/13) or unknown etiology (2/13) performing open surgery was deemed as safer. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot scores improved from an average of 55 ± 8 to 83 ± 11 at 12 months after surgery and 88 ± 10 at 24 months after surgery. The anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome accounts for approximately 5% of cases complaining of feet numbness, which undergo electromyographic and nerve conduction testing. Reports in the scientific literature are scarce, perhaps due to underdiagnosis, while it is amenable to surgical management. Clinical diagnosis supported by imaging studies demonstrated osteophytes, ganglions or localized synovitis. Endoscopic treatment can be performed safely provided a clear-cut single compressing element is identified.