Closed rupture of the anterior tibial tendon. A case report and review of the literature.

Closed rupture of the anterior tibial tendon is an unusual injury. It occurs in middle-aged to elderly males following forced plantar flexion of the ankle. A case is presented of a 69-year-old man with spondylolisthesis whose tendon ruptured during a physical examination. The injury was thought initially to represent an acute L5 root compression secondary to a herniated intervertebral disc at the level of his spondylolisthesis. The correct diagnosis was made after admission to the hospital. Surgical repair of the tendon resulted in normal ankle motion and strength. A review of the 12 previously reported cases indicates that treatment has been either surgical repair or conservative management. All patients recovered a normal gait but those treated surgically had more motion and dorsiflexion strength. This condition emphasizes the importance of exact history taking and thorough physical examination.