Reconstruction of chronic tibialis anterior tendon ruptures using a free anterior half of a peroneus longus tendon autograft: A technical note.

Purpose: Chronic rupture of the tibialis anterior (TA) tendon is rare. Several reconstruction techniques have been introduced. However, to the best of our knowledge, the use of a free anterior half of a peroneus longus tendon (AHPLT) autograft has not been reported for reconstruction of TA tendon rupture. This study aimed to describe the surgical technique and present the clinical outcomes of reconstruction of the chronic TA tendon ruptures using an AHPLT autograft.

Methods

Between September 2013 and April 2019, five patients with chronic TA tendon rupture were surgically treated by reconstruction using an AHPLT autograft. The AHPLT could be easily harvested percutaneously with a tendon stripper from the ipsilateral lower leg around the reconstruction site. The study included four men and one woman, with a mean age of 43.8 (range: 23-65) years.

Results

At a mean follow-up period of 42.8 (range; 12-70) months, the mean Foot Function Index value significantly improved from 53.6 ± 19.8 preoperatively to 25.8 ± 20.8 postoperatively (p = .04). None of the patients had morbidities (such as nerve injury, delayed tendon ruptures, or tenosynovitis) around the AHPLT donor site. Three patients were very satisfied, two patients were satisfied, and one patient was fair with the results.

Conclusions

Reconstruction of chronic TA tendon ruptures using a free AHPLT autograft could be successfully performed with satisfactory clinical outcomes and minimal donor site morbidities. Future studies with a larger population size and a comparative group are warranted to confirm these findings.