Combined anteroposterior tibial tendon transfer in post-traumatic peroneal palsy

Posterior tibial tendon transfer to the dorsum of the foot for correction of traumatic paralytic peroneal palsy is a well-accepted treatment option. A careful review of the literature reveals that the results of treatment in this specific patient group are not always encouraging. This paper reports the results of a combined anteroposterior tibial tendon transfer in nine patients with traumatic paralytic peroneal palsy who initially used an ankle-foot orthosis to ambulate. Percutaneous tendo achillis lengthening to correct fixed ankle equinus was performed in six of the patients. At a minimal 24-mo follow-up (range, 24-56), all nine patients were brace free and subjectively felt that the surgery was successful. While the surgery was initially planned to provide an active "tenodesis" of the ankle to resist passive ankle equinus during swing phase of gait, walking electromyography revealed "retraining" of the transferred posterior tibial muscle to function as an active swing-phase ankle dorsiflexor muscle in seven of the nine patients.