Case Report Tendon Rerouting and Transfer for Atraumatic Rupture of the Flexor Hallucis Longus: A Case Report.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Foot and ankle reconstruction
• Tendon injuries

Background:

• Chronic atraumatic rupture of the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendon is uncommon.
• Os trigonum is a potential cause of FHL tendon pathology.
• Surgical intervention is often required for symptomatic FHL tendon ruptures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a case of chronic atraumatic FHL rupture.
• To evaluate the efficacy of a specific tendon transfer technique for FHL rupture.
• To highlight a minimally invasive surgical approach.

Main Methods:

• A 59-year-old male patient with chronic atraumatic FHL rupture secondary to os trigonum.
• Surgical technique involved rerouting the FHL tendon to the flexor digitorum longus (FDL) tendon.
• Postoperative assessment of active hallux motion and functional recovery.

Main Results:

• Successful restoration of active motion in the hallux.
• The tendon transfer technique was technically straightforward and reliable.
• Avoidance of FDL tendon resection, minimizing risk of FDL weakness.

Conclusions:

• Rerouting the FHL tendon to the FDL is an effective and reliable surgical option for chronic FHL ruptures.
• This technique preserves FDL function, reducing the risk of postoperative weakness.
• It offers a viable alternative to other surgical procedures for FHL tendon pathology.