Anatomic Features of Patients With Recurrent Peroneal Tendon Dislocation

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Radiology
• Anatomy

Background:

• Anatomic variations of peroneal muscles and the lateral malleolus can contribute to peroneal tendon dislocation.
• Understanding these variations is crucial for diagnosing and managing this condition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate anatomic variations of the retromalleolar groove and peroneal muscles in patients with and without recurrent peroneal tendon dislocation.
• Utilize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) for detailed imaging analysis.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study including 30 patients with recurrent peroneal tendon dislocation (PD group) and 30 matched controls (CN group).
• Assessed malleolar groove morphology and fibular posterior tilting angle via CT.
• Evaluated accessory peroneal muscles, peroneus brevis muscle height, and peroneal muscle/tendon volume via MRI.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were found in malleolar groove appearance, fibular tilting, or accessory peroneal muscles between groups.
• The peroneal muscle ratio was significantly higher in the PD group compared to the CN group (P < .001).
• Peroneus brevis muscle belly height was significantly lower in the PD group (P = .001).

Conclusions:

• A lower-lying peroneus brevis muscle belly and larger retromalleolar muscle volume are significantly associated with peroneal tendon dislocation.
• Retromalleolar bony morphology was not found to be associated with peroneal tendon dislocation.