Reconstruction of Neglected Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendon Rupture: A Case Report

Isolated rupture of the flexor hallucis longus tendon is an unusual injury. We present the case of a neglected flexor hallucis longus tendon closed traumatic rupture at the plantar aspect of the first phalangeal head of the great toe in a middle-age male. The injury occurred while he was dancing. Because end-to-end tendon suture was impossible, the ensuing gap was repaired using a free plantaris tendon graft. We present the operative repair benefit of the flexor hallucis longus tendon rupture to regain the function and strength of the interphalangeal joint of the hallux, avoid extension of the distal phalanx, and maintain the longitudinal arch of the foot.     

Fracture of the Medial Tubercle of the Posterior Process of the Talus: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Appearance with Clinical Follow-Up

Fractures of the medial tubercle of the posterior process of the talus are rare injuries. They are often misdiagnosed, resulting in increased morbidity and symptoms of chronic ankle pain and instability. When undetected, these fractures may become displaced, with potential additional injuries such as to the flexor hallucis longus tendon which may become interposed between the fracture fragments. We report a case of a clinically unsuspected fracture of the medial tubercle of the posterior process of the talus seen on magnetic resonance imaging, treated conservatively, with interval satisfactory healing of the fracture at 6 weeks follow-up.     

Mechanical Properties of Reconstructed Achilles Tendon with Transfer of Peroneus Brevis or Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendon

Treatment of chronic Achilles tendon ruptures can be technically difficult because of tendon retraction, atrophy, and short distal stumps. Surgical repair of chronic Achilles tendon ruptures focuses on local and free tendon transfers, as well as reconstruction with allografts or synthetic materials. This study examined the in vitro mechanical properties of a reconstructed Achilles tendon with the peroneus brevis or the flexor hallucis longus tendons in a human cadaver model. The tendons were harvested from 17 fresh-frozen human cadavers, and the same techniques were used for all of the model reconstructions. Biomechanical measurements included the failure load, stiffness, energy-to-peak load, and mode of failure. The mean failure load was significantly higher in the peroneus brevis group (P = .036), and there was no significant difference in stiffness and energy-to-peak load between the peroneus brevis and flexor hallucis longus groups. In every case, the mode of failure involved the tendon graft pulling through either the distal or proximal stump of the Achilles tendon. The greater failure loads observed with the use of peroneus brevis may not be clinically relevant, however, because of the magnitude of the peak loads observed in the cadaveric model. The present study supports the use of either peroneus brevis or flexor hallucis longus for reconstruction of chronic Achilles tendon ruptures and indicates the need for surgeons to carefully reinforce the attachment of the transferred tendon grafts to the stumps of the Achilles tendon to prevent pullout.     

距骨后突内侧结节骨折

目的分析讨论距骨后突内侧结节骨折的早期诊断及治疗。方法 利用ＣＴ确诊５例距骨后突内侧结节骨折病例。对胃及距下关节面的３例患者,２例采用切开复位内固定术,１例因拒绝手术而行保守治疗。另外２例,１例给予石膏固定６周,１例行骨块切除术。结果 本初诊确诊４例,漏诊１例,平均随访２４个月。１例漏诊患者因６个月后骨折不愈合伴疼痛、足底麻木而行骨块切除,术后疗效满意;其余４例中３例疗效满意,１例接受保守治疗者     

Interposition of Tibialis Posterior and Flexor Digitorum Longus Tendons Resulted in Irreducible Ankle Fracture-Dislocation

Irreducible ankle fracture-dislocations are very rare entities. The present case report demonstrates an unusual finding of tibialis posterior and flexor digitorum longus tendons interposed in the tibiofibular joint impairing successful closed reduction of ankle fracture-dislocation. A 45-year-old patient presented with a bimalleolar pronation-external rotation ankle fracture-dislocation after a motorcycle accident. Attempts to perform closed reduction before surgery were unsuccessful. Subsequent urgent open reduction and internal fixation surgical management revealed interposition of the tibialis posterior and flexor digitorum longus tendons in the tibiofibular joint. In irreducible fracture-dislocation of the ankle with severe lateral displacement of the talus, one should be aware of the possibility of soft tissue interposition of the tibialis posterior and flexor digitorum longus tendons in the tibiofibular joint.     

Calcific Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy-Achilles Repair With Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendon Transfer: Case Series and Surgical Technique

Calcific insertional Achilles tendinopathy (CIAT) is a relatively common musculoskeletal entity that results in significant pain and disability, as well as posterior muscle group weakness. There is a lack of evidence criteria to support the timing of operative intervention, choice of procedures, or whether equinus requires treatment. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively review 45 patients (48 feet) who have undergone surgical management of CIAT with concomitant posterior muscle group weakness with the single heel rise testing. All patients underwent debridement and repair of the Achilles tendon with reattachment of the Achilles tendon to the calcaneus, ostectomy of the calcaneus, and flexor hallucis longus tendon transfer. Those patients with equinus also underwent gastrocnemius recession. The focus includes patient-reported satisfaction, time to return to normal shoe gear, and the incidence of revision surgery. The overall average of time to weightbearing was 4.3 weeks. After surgery, 73.3% (n?=?33) of the 45 patients responded to the following question: “Would you have this surgery done again?” Of these patients, 93.9% (n?=?31) responded “Yes” and 6.1% (n?=?2) responded “Unsure.” Of the same 33 patients, 84.8% (n?=?28) responded that they were “Very Satisfied” with the procedure and 15.2% (n?=?5) responded that they were “Satisfied.” Twelve patients (26.7%) did not respond to either question. One of the 12 patients (8.3%) who did not respond had bilateral procedures. None of the patients experienced tendon rupture, deep vein thrombosis, or the need for revision surgery. Four patients (8%) experienced a superficial infection, whereas 1 patient (2%) had development of a deep infection. No correlations were found when looking at the relationship between body mass index and return to weightbearing/normal shoe gear with Spearman analysis.     

Open Ankle Dislocation Without Fractures With Tibialis Posterior Tendon Interposition Through the Interosseous Space

Open ankle dislocations without fracture are rare injuries. Dislocation or interposition of adjacent tendons are a rare associated feature of ankle fracture-dislocation. We report an extremely unusual case of open ankle dislocation without fracture with concurrent tibialis posterior tendon interposition through the interosseous space that was detected incidentally on computed tomography. We highlight the clinical, radiologic, and intraoperative features to avoid missing similar diagnoses.     

Incarceration of the Posterior Tibial Tendon in an Isolated Comminuted Medial Malleolus Fracture

Isolated medial malleolar fractures are a less common presentation of an ankle fracture. Treatment is not universally accepted, although many have agreed that any displacement warrants anatomic reduction and fixation. We present a case of an isolated, comminuted medial malleolar fracture that was displaced secondary to entrapment of the posterior tibial tendon between the fracture fragments requiring surgical intervention. The patient was treated with prompt open reduction and internal fixation and had an excellent functional outcome at 1 year. When open reduction and internal fixation of the medial malleolus is indicated, a thorough exploration of the zone of injury is required to identify and adequately address any surrounding pathologic features beyond just the disrupted bony anatomy. To the best of our knowledge, this specific injury has never been previously reported and emphasizes the importance of understanding the local anatomy and how restoration of the distorted anatomy is vital to optimize patient function.     

Split Peroneus Longus Free Tendon Autograft Transplantation for the Treatment of Neglected Extensor Hallucis Longus Tendon Laceration: A Case Report

A neglected laceration of the extensor hallucis longus (EHL) tendon is rare. Retraction of the tendon ends often occurs when a laceration is neglected, leading to a substantial tendon deficit. A paucity of case reports is available describing the treatment of EHL laceration with a large area of gap secondary to retraction. Therefore, the treatment recommendations are limited. We present the case of a neglected EHL tendon laceration with a 10.5-cm gap in a healthy 22-year-old female. The EHL tendon laceration was repaired using a split peroneus longus tendon autograft that, to the best of our knowledge, has not been previously reported. At the 3-year follow-up evaluation, the patient retained full function of her hallux and was free of symptoms.     

A Biomechanical Analysis of Interference Screw Versus Bone Tunnel Fixation of Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendon Transfers to the Calcaneus

The flexor hallucis longus tendon transfer is commonly used to restore function in chronic Achilles tendon ruptures and chronic Achilles tendinopathy. The tendon is often secured to the calcaneus either through a bone tunnel or by an interference screw. We hypothesized that tenodesis using the bone tunnel method would be mechanically superior to interference screw fixation for flexor hallucis longus transfers. Eight matched pairs of cadaveric specimens were assigned randomly to the bone tunnel or interference screw technique and were loaded to failure. Biomechanical analysis was performed to evaluate the ultimate strength, peak stress, Young's modulus, failure strain, and strain energy. Unpaired comparison, paired comparison, and linear regression analyses were used to determine statistical significance. A slight 22% ± 9% decrease in Young's modulus and a 52% ± 18% increase of strain energy were found in the interference screw group. However, no differences in ultimate strength, peak stress, or failure strain were seen between the 2 groups on paired comparison. Our findings suggest that interference screw fixation provides similar spontaneous biomechanical properties to the use of a bone tunnel for flexor hallucis longus transfer to the calcaneus. The interference screw is a practical option for fixation of the flexor hallucis longus tendon to the calcaneus and can be performed through a single incision approach.     

Treatment of Hallux Varus After Traumatic Adductor Hallucis Tendon Rupture

Hallux varus is a deformity of acquired and less commonly congenital etiologies. It can present secondary to the release of the soft tissues surrounding the first metatarsophalangeal joint surfaces during bunion surgery. If the condition is left untreated, it can be debilitating, with progressive pain and destruction of joint surfaces. Many procedures have been described for the treatment of iatrogenic causes of hallux varus; however, little has been reported regarding the success of procedures when used for less typical traumatic causes. In the present report, a case is presented of surgical repair of a traumatic hallux varus using a suture and button fixation device and 3-year patient follow-up data.     

Arthroscopic Lengthening of the Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendon to Correct Hallux Flexion Deformity

Contracture of the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendon is one of the most common factors leading to hallux flexion deformity. Few cases treated by arthroscopic technology have been reported. In this article, we perform a new method to lengthen the FHL tendon under an arthroscope. We present a case of 1 patient treated with this technique and followed for 2 years. The appearance of his halluces remarkably improved at the follow-up visits, and movement was refined simultaneously. From the satisfactory effect of this operation, lengthening the FHL tendon under arthroscope is an effective method to correct flexion deformity of the hallux with minimal incisions. This technique also provides an innovative application of minimally invasive surgeries to treat clinically infrequent diseases.     

Fracture of the Lateral Process of the Talus: A Report of Two Cases

Fracture of the lateral process of the talus is a rare lesion commonly described in snowboarding injuries. Nevertheless, several conditions can lead to this injury, which is often misdiagnosed as a severe ankle sprain because of the difficulty in detecting it on standard radiographic views. Computed tomography is very helpful for the assessment of this injury. The type of treatment will depend on the size and degree of the displacement of the fracture. This injury can also lead to subtalar joint osteoarthritis. We report 2 cases of fracture of the lateral process of the talus. In the first case, a young male sustained a combined inversion and dorsiflexion strain of his right foot when he fell from a ladder. In the second case, a woman broke the lateral process of her right talus by the same mechanism when she was sledding. In the 2 situations, we opted for an open reduction and internal fixation using 2.4-mm cannulated screws. Both patients were allowed walking with partial weightbearing with a walker boot (VACOped^®) for 6 weeks. At 1 year, both showed a consolidated fracture and had regained their preinjury level of activity.     

距骨骨折的手术治疗

目的探讨距骨骨折的特点、类型、手术方法及影响疗效的相关因素。方法1998年12月至2004年12月,共治疗距骨骨折39例,根据Hawkins分型方法,型骨折5例,型骨折25例,型骨折9例。型骨折采用松质骨拉力螺钉内固定;、型骨折行急诊手术,其中型骨折采用前外侧切口暴露,解剖复位,2枚松质骨拉力螺钉交叉内固定;型骨折采用踝前内侧切口暴露,解剖复位,松质骨拉力螺钉内固定,伴有内踝骨折时同时复位内固定,并以自体髂骨块跨骨折线嵌入植骨。术后短腿管形石膏外固定12~24周,X线片示骨折线模糊后拆石膏行不负重下踝关节活动,骨折线消失后恢复伤前活动。结果除2例失访外,37例获得随访。随访时间1.5~6年,平均3年。根据Hawkins疗效标准判定,优12例(32.4%),良17例(45.9%),可6例(16.2%),差2例(5.4%),优良率为78.4%。结论距骨骨折虽然并发症多且后果严重,但是通过急诊手术、解剖复位、有效内固定、自体髂骨块嵌入植骨、局部封闭、理疗等综合治疗,可降低病残率。     

Endoscopic Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendon Transfer for Reconstruction of the Achilles Tendon Rupture in High-Risk Patients: A Case Series

The neglected Achilles tendon rupture requires surgical reconstruction for the best functional outcome. According to the current literature, there are many reconstructive options available that demonstrate acceptable functional results in most cases. These procedures require large incisions, leading to potential wound-healing complications. Therefore, these procedures may not be suitable for patients who are at high risk for wound-healing problems. A minimally invasive approach is desirable in this situation to decrease the risk of this potential complication. Endoscopic transfer of the flexor hallucis longus tendon is described in this series as an alternative to reconstruct the Achilles tendon in 2 such high-risk individuals. Both patients had a successful outcome with no wound-healing problems and regained acceptable functional status.     

Surgical Planning for Flexor Digitorum Longus Tendon Transfers: An Anatomic Study

Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction is often coupled with various degrees of hindfoot valgus and equinus. Preoperative planning is essential to appropriate procedure choice and surgical efficiency. The purpose of the present study was to assess the anatomy at the harvest site for flexor digitorum longus tendon transfer, specifically at the master knot of Henry. Thirty fresh-frozen below-the-knee cadavers were used for dissection. A standard anatomic approach was performed for posterior tibial tendon debridement and flexor digitorum longus tendon transfer. The flexor digitorum longus tendon was harvested and measured at the master knot of Henry. The present anatomic study evaluated the tendon width of the flexor digitorum longus tendon at a common harvest site. Of the 30 specimens, 20 (67%) measured 5 mm and 10 (33%) measured 4 mm. A 5.0-mm interference screw would be acceptable in each specimen and therefore would be the safest choice. A 4.0-mm interference screw would be acceptable in only 33% of the specimens. Males have a slightly more robust flexor digitorum longus tendon than females at the harvest site. This information will assist surgeons in preoperative planning during stage II flatfoot correction for posterior tibial tendon dysfunction.     

Anatomical Study of the Accessory Tendon of the Extensor Hallucis Longus Muscle and Its Clinical Application

BackgroudThe accessory tendon of the extensor hallucis longus (ATEHL) muscle is a common abnormal structure, and its clinical significance remains debatable. In this study, we provide the incidence of the ATEHL and characterize its morphological types in Asian cadavers and investigate its clinical applications.MethodsThe tendons from 50 adult cadaveric feet, fixed in 10% formalin, were analyzed. We measured the length and width of both the ATEHL and the extensor hallucis brevis (EHB).ResultsAll dissected specimens had an ATEHL. The first metatarsophalangeal joint was surrounded by an accessory tendon that inserted onto the joint capsule and the dorsal base of the proximal phalanx. We classified the ATEHL into 3 types based on their directions. Differences in ATEHL type based on sex were not statistically significant.ConclusionsWe found an ATEHL in all cadaveric specimens in this study. We surmise that the ATEHL acts as an antagonist with the EHB when the toe is extending, which might help prevent the occurrence of hallux valgus deformity.