Peroneal Tendon Tears: Four Simple-to-Complex Cases

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Anatomy

Background:

• Peroneal tendon tears are a common yet frequently overlooked cause of lateral ankle pain.
• Conservative treatment often fails, necessitating surgical intervention for symptomatic tears.

Observation:

• This study details the surgical management of four distinct peroneal tendon tear combinations.
• Case 1: Longitudinal split of peroneal brevis, repaired.
• Case 2: Peroneal longus tear with a gap, tenodesed to intact brevis.
• Case 3: Ruptures of both peroneal tendons with significant gaps and cavovarus deformity, managed with tendon transfer and osteotomies.
• Case 4: Complete rupture of both peroneal tendons, treated with anterior tibialis tendon transfer, osteotomy, and external fixation.

Findings:

• Surgical strategies must be individualized based on the specific tear pattern and severity.
• Successful outcomes depend on accurate diagnosis and appropriate surgical technique selection.

Implications:

• Maintaining a high index of suspicion for peroneal tears is vital for timely diagnosis and treatment.
• Diverse surgical options exist for complex peroneal tendon injuries, addressing various tear combinations and deformities.