Partial Rupture of the Tibialis Posterior Tendon Associated with a Closed Medial Malleolar FractureA Case Report

J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2016 Nov;106(6):449-452. doi: 10.7547/15-078.

Abstract

Rupture of the tibialis posterior tendon associated with ankle fracture is rare and difficult to diagnose. This rupture can be easily overlooked because the clinical examination is limited owing to acute pain related to a closed ankle fracture. Complete rupture of the tibialis posterior tendon can be identified by a loss of tension during ankle fracture fixation, but partial rupture is more difficult to detect because the tibialis posterior tendon can maintain its tension. A few cases of complete rupture of the tibialis posterior tendon combined with ankle fracture have been reported. It is well-known that failure to diagnose a rupture of the tibialis posterior tendon can lead to long-term disability and a planovalgus foot. However, to our knowledge, this is the first report of partial rupture of the tibialis posterior tendon in the English literature. Herein, we describe a patient with a neglected partial rupture of the tibialis posterior tendon combined with a medial malleolar fracture.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Traffic
  • Adult
  • Ankle Fractures / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ankle Fractures / surgery*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Fracture Fixation, Internal / methods*
  • Humans
  • Injury Severity Score
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Pain Measurement
  • Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction / diagnostic imaging
  • Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction / surgery*
  • Range of Motion, Articular / physiology
  • Risk Assessment
  • Rupture / diagnostic imaging
  • Rupture / pathology
  • Rupture / surgery*
  • Suture Techniques
  • Tendon Injuries / diagnostic imaging
  • Tendon Injuries / surgery*
  • Treatment Outcome