PERONEAL TENDONITIS

Summary

Peroneal tendonitis is an irritation to the tendons that run past the back outside part of the ankle. The two tendons involved are the peroneus longus and peroneus brevis. The tendonitis usually occurs because these tendons are subject to excessive repetitive forces during standing and walking. Certain foot shapes such as a higher arched foot tend to increase the force that the peroneal tendons are exposed to and may thereby predispose to the development of peroneal tendonitis. Treatment is aimed at decreasing symptoms and correcting any precipitating factor. Non-operative treatment may include: anti-inflammatory medications, activity modification, ice, muscle strengthening, ankle bracing, and/or orthotics. Occasionally surgery is beneficial.

Clinical Presentation:

Patients with peroneal tendonitis present with pain and, occasionally, swelling in the outside and back (posterolateral) part of the ankle (Figure 1). This tends to be a chronic condition, so there is often no precipitating event. However, sometimes patients will report an activity that aggravated their symptoms.

Figure 1: Location of pain and swelling in Peroneal Tendonitis

Peroneal Tendons

The peroneal tendons run behind the prominent bone on the outside of the ankle. There are two tendons, the peroneus brevis and peroneus longs. These tendons help to control the position of the foot during walking. They also responsible for the muscle contraction that moves the foot out to the side (eversion of the foot).

Peroneal tendonitis is an irritation to the peroneal tendons. Essentially, the tendons are repetitively overloaded and the subsequent inflammatory response (attempt at healing) creates pain and discomfort. This inflammatory response is the reason why patients with peroneal tendonitis will often have startup pain and pain first thing in the morning.

The mechanism by which peroneal tendonitis develops is akin to a rope that is repetitively overloaded. Just as a rope can become frayed -some patients with peroneal tendonitis will also have some tearing of the tendons. However, when tearing of the tendon occurs it is usually in line with the tendon, essentially causing a split in the tendon. Patients with peroneal tendonitis are usually able to walk although they may have a limp. When peroneal tendonitis is severe it often prevents patients from participating in dynamic sporting type activities that require sudden changes of direction.

Physical Examination:

Patients with peroneal tendonitis will often walk with a limp. Looking at the outside of the ankle, there will may be some subtle (or not so subtle) swelling behind the lateral malleolus [the prominent bone on the outside of the ankle]. Pressing on this area will often create discomfort. Many patients will have a higher arch foot (subtle cavus foot) with increased ankle inversion compared to eversion. This foot pattern predisposes a patient to increased load over the region of the peroneal tendons during walking. The sensation and muscle strength is usually intact, although the sural nerve innervates the outside of the foot and will on occasionally be irritated by the inflammation and swelling. This can lead to either decreased sensation or a burning over the lateral or outside aspect of the foot. In rare instances some patients may have a complete tear of one of the peroneal tendons and in this situation there may be weakness in the ability to move the foot out to the side (eversion of the foot.)

Imaging Studies:

Plain weight-bearing x-rays are likely to show evidence of a higher arched foot pattern. However, the joints of the foot are usually normal with no evidence of arthritis.

An MRI is often ordered to determine if there is tearing of the peroneal tendons, and if there is tearing to determine how extensive it is. It is not uncommon to see abnormal edema representing the tendonitis in the peroneal tendons (Figure #3). It is also common to see a fair bit of increased fluid around the tendons.

On both plain x-ray and particularly MRI, it may be possible to identify the peroneal tubercle, which is occasionally increased and at times, can serve as an irritant as the peroneal tendons run by this bony structure.

Non-Operative Treatment:

Patients with peroneal tendonitis, but no significant peroneal tendon tear, can usually be treated successfully non-operatively. Treatment is aimed at decreasing the load through the peroneal tendons and subsequently decreasing the inflammation. Successful non-operative treatment includes:

Anti-inflammatory medication to decrease inflammatory response from the tendons.

Ankle bracing, such as the use of an ankle lacer, can be used to decrease the inversion moment in subsequent force going through the tendons.

Activity Modification: A short period of limited activity over a few weeks to allow the inflammatory response to settle can be very helpful.

Physical therapy that works on gradually strengthening the peroneal tendons, as well as compromising the eversion motion, can also be helpful.

Avoid Precipitating Activities: Certain activities will exacerbate peroneal tendonitis. These can include activities with sudden cutting or changing direction motions, or anything that will increase the force through the tendons. If these can be avoided, often the tendonitis symptoms will settle.

An Orthotic with a recessed area under the first metatarsal head: If a patient has a subtle or not so subtle cavus [high arched] foot pattern, they often benefit from an orthotic with a recessed area under the first metatarsal head. In patients with a high arched foot pattern this type of orthotic can often partially or completely correct the hindfoot alignment provided the hindfoot joints are still mobile. It would seem intuitive that patients with a high arched foot should have a high arch built into the inside of their orthotic, but in fact this is not recommended as it will have a tendency to tip the foot more to the outside, often exacerbating the load on the outside structures such as the peroneal tendons.

Ice applied to the area in 10- to 20-minute intervals can also be helpful in allowing some of the more acute symptoms to settle.

Operative Treatment:

In patients with a large peroneal tendon tear or a bony prominence that is serving as a physical irritant to the tendon, surgery may be beneficial. Physical irritants can include a prominent peroneal tubercle or a bone spur off of the back (posterior aspect) of the fibula (prominent bone on the outside of the ankle). Surgery is performed to: clean up the tendons themselves 9debridement or synovectomy); repair any significant tearing of the tendons; and if necessary smooth out the tract that the peroneal tendons run in.

Often there is a tear of the peroneal tendon. If the longitudinal tearing represents less than 50% of the tendons the torn part of the tendon is removed. If it is more than 50%, the tendon is débrided (cleaned up) and the involved tendon is sutured (transferred) to the other tendon.

Adjunctive Procedures

Many patients may require other procedures in addition to the surgery on the peroneal tendons themselves in order to address other related problems or alter the force that the peroneal tendons are subject to. These procedures may include:

Repair of the Peroneal Retinaculum

In some individuals the peroneal tendon problems will stem from the tendons partially (or completely) popping out of the grove (subluxing) that they normally run in behind the fibula. This results from a tearing or stretching out of the superior peroneal retinaculum which is a thick fibrous tissue that normally restrains the tendons. When this occurs surgery to stabilize or repair the peroneal retinaculum may be necessary.

Ankle arthroscopy

Patients with peroneal tendonitis may also have problems within the ankle joint itself. In this situation and ankle arthscopy may be indicated.

Peroneal tubercle resection

The peroneal tubercle is a prominent bump of bone on the outside of the heel bone. It serves to seperate the two peroneal tendons (peroneus longus and peroneus brevis) as they run along the outside of the foot. This bump can become enlarged due to the irritation of the peroneal tendons and in some patients it will reach a size where it may need to be removed.

Ankle Ligament Stabilization (ex. Brostrum procedure)

Many patients with significant peroneal tendoinitis requiring surgery may also have ankle instability and my require a lateral ankle ligament stabilization such as a Brostrum procedure in addition to the procedures on the peroneal tendons.

Lateralizing Calcaneal Osteotomy

In some individuals with significant alignment issues, it may be necessary to fundamentally change the shape of the hindfoot. This is typically done with a lateralizing calcaneal osteotomy. This allows the heel to be shifted, and the distribution of force to be more even over the hind part of the foot.

Potential Surgical Complications

Potential complications of surgery can occur. These include:

1. Deep wound infection.

2. Wound healing problems

3. Sural Neuritis. The sural nerve, which innervates the outside of the foot, is often stretched or injured in the surgical approach and can become scarred or injured in the course of the surgery.

4. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

5. Pulmonary Embolism

Edited June 27th, 2009

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