[Study on anatomy of anterior tibial tendon and its clinical application].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the normal and abnormal insertions of the anterior tibial tendon and store up knowledge for clinical application.

METHODS

Forty-six antiseptic specimens of the foot of Chinese were selected for anatomical and histological studies on the insertions. The methods included taking the photos, adding up the numbers of the insertions that mainly attach to the first metatarsal os or the medial cuneiform os and measuring the length of the tendons from the line connecting the malleolus lateralis projection and malleolus medialis projection to the insertion.

RESULTS

The insertions could be categorized as three types: 28 (60.87%) insertions belonged to the bundle type; 14 (30.43%) insertions were of the medial type; 4 (8.7%) insertions were of the bifurcate type. 40 insertions mainly attached to the medial cuneiform os; 6 insertions mainly attached to the first metatarsal os. The length of the anterior tibial tendon of adults was determined to be 72.33 +/- 5.29 mm and the length of the children's tendon 56.77 +/- 4.54 mm.

CONCLUSION

The aboved finding suggest that in clinical treatment the insertions of the bifurcate type should be cut off completely as the anterior tibial tendons of the bifurcate type are transferred into the lateral part of the feet. The insertions of the bundle type and bifurcate type are not suitable for the split anterior tibial tendon transfer, but the medial type cases are suitable for this kind of operation.