Peroneal Tendon Syndromes Follow-up

  • Author: Steven J Karageanes, DO; Chief Editor: Sherwin SW Ho, MD   more...
 
Updated: Dec 5, 2011
 

Return to Play

If surgery and/or casting is not required for a peroneal tendon injury, the patient can usually return to activity in 1-2 weeks with ankle bracing or taping until strength and function are back to 90-100% of the nonaffected ankle.

If surgery is performed, return to play with bracing or taping is usually allowed once the strength and function of the ankle has been rehabilitated to 90% of that in the nonaffected ankle. Once the ankle is close to 100%, the bracing/taping is usually not necessary but permitted.

In most sports injuries, return to play should be allowed when the ankle has a painless range of motion, normal or improved balance, preinjury muscle strength, and no pain with sport-specific functional testing.

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Complications

Complications of conservative treatment of a peroneal tendon injury are progression of pain and instability, and possible peroneal tendon rupture. Surgical complications vary depending on the procedure. A few common ones include sural nerve injury, progression of symptoms, chronic lateral ankle pain, and loss of range of motion. Any surgery poses a risk of infection and failure of the intent of the procedure.

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Prevention

Several measures can be taken to prevent peroneal tendon injuries: (1) Good preexercise and postexercise stretching of the ankle, (2) a gradual increase in the level of activity or training, and (3) full rehabilitation of the ankle after any type of injury. These measures decrease the occurrence of ankle injury and, in turn, prevent peroneal tendon injury. Other interventions, such as attempting to correct foot abnormalities (eg, pes planus), also play an integral part in prevention.

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Prognosis

The prognosis for improvement with conservative treatment is excellent if there is no functional instability requiring surgery. Surgical repairs for acute dislocation and chronic tears are also good. Casting for an acute dislocation has a success rate of only 50%. Therefore, this option should be reserved for patients with contraindications to surgery.

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Education

Educating patients about the importance of ankle rehabilitation after an injury is the cornerstone in the prevention of peroneal tendon injuries. Further, stressing the need to stretch before and after exercise is also important.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Steven J Karageanes, DO  Director, Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship, Director, Sports Medicine Education, Center for Orthopedics and Neuroscience; Department of Medical Education, Oakwood Healthcare System

Steven J Karageanes, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association, American Osteopathic Association, and Michigan State Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Kathleen Sharp, MD, CAQSM  Medical Director, CareNow-Duncanville

Kathleen Sharp, MD, CAQSM is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Sports Medicine, and National Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Gerard A Malanga, MD  Director of Pain Management, Overlook Hospital; Director of PM&R Sports Medicine Fellowship, Atlantic Health; Clinical Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School; Clinical Chief, Rehabilitation Medicine and Electrodiagnosis, St Michael's Medical Center; Fellow, American College of Sports Medicine

Gerard A Malanga, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American College of Sports Medicine, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, International Spine Intervention Society, and North American Spine Society

Disclosure: Cephalon Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Endo Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Genzyme Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Prostakan Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Pfizer Consulting fee Speaking and teaching

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Russell D White, MD  Professor of Medicine, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Director of Sports Medicine Fellowship Program, Medical Director, Sports Medicine Center, Head Team Physician, University of Missouri-Kansas City Intercollegiate Athletic Program, Department of Community and Family Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Truman Medical Center-Lakewood

Russell D White, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American College of Sports Medicine, American Diabetes Association, and American Medical Society for Sports Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jon B Whitehurst, MD  Clinical Instructor of Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine; Partner, Rockford Orthopedic Associates; Orthopedic Chairman, Rockford Memorial Hospital

Jon B Whitehurst, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and Arthroscopy Association of North America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Sherwin SW Ho, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Section of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences, The Pritzker School of Medicine

Sherwin SW Ho, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy Association of North America, and Herodicus Society

Disclosure: Breg, Inc. Consulting fee Consulting; Biomet, Inc. Consulting fee Consulting; GMV, Inc. Arthroscopy Simulator Evaluation and teaching; Smith and Nephew Grant/research funds Fellowship funding; DJ Ortho Grant/research funds Course funding; Athletico Physical Therapy Grant/research funds Course, research funding

References

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Lateral ankle anatomy demonstrates the peroneal tendons as they course beneath the superior retinaculum. The anterior talofibular, calcaneofibular, and posterior talofibular ligaments are also shown.
Anterior drawer test, which assesses anterior talofibular ligament stability. The top hand stabilizes, while the lower hand translates the calcaneus and talus directly toward the operator. From Karageanes SJ. Principles of Manual Sports Medicine, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2005.
Tilt test. The operator tilts the talus and calcaneus, not the forefoot. This assesses the integrity of the calcaneofibular ligament. From Karageanes SJ. Principles of Manual Sports Medicine, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2005.
Dislocated peroneal tendons. Left, Note the course of the tendons anterior to the lateral malleolus. Right, Image demonstrates manual relocation of the displaced tendons.
Peroneal stability test. The patient pushes the foot laterally against resistance, while the operator monitors the tendon. From Karageanes SJ. Principles of Manual Sports Medicine, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2005.
 
 
 
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