Tarsal tunnel syndrome

ABSTRACT

Thirty-nine feet with tarsal tunnel syndrome were studied in 34 patients. The diagnosis was based on clinical and electrophysiological data. The mean age of the patients was 38.3 years, and 18 patients were males [52.9%] Occupations requiring prolonged standing were present in 25 patients [73.5%]. Nineteen patients had received medical treatment which failed. All feet were treated surgically by slitting of the flexor retinaculum to decompress the posterior tibial nerve. Moreover, slitting of the fibro-osseous opening in the origin of the abductor hallucis was done to decompress the medial and lateral plantar nerves. Satisfactory results were obtained in 36 feet [92.3%] after a follow up period of 3 - 15 months. The improvement was significant as regards the distal motor latency [t = 8.46, P 0.001] and insignificant as regards the amplitude of the evoked muscle action potential [t = 1.2, P 0.05]. Abnormalities of the nerve or the contents of the tarsal tunnel were found in 13 feet [38.5%]. No apparent abnormality was detected macroscopically in the remaining 26 feet