The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 76, Issue 8 1222-1230, Copyright © 1994 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
Clinical results after tarsal tunnel decompression
WH Pfeiffer and A Cracchiolo
University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center.
We reviewed the clinical results for thirty patients (thirty-two feet) who
had had exploration and decompression of the posterior tibial nerve for the
treatment of tarsal tunnel syndrome between 1982 and 1990. The average
duration of follow-up was thirty-one months (range, twenty-four to 118
months). Most of the patients were female, and the average age was
forty-seven years (range, thirteen to seventy-two years). Over-all, only
fourteen (44 percent) of the thirty-two feet benefited markedly from the
operative procedure (a good or excellent result). Of the five patients
(five feet) who were completely satisfied, three had another lesion (a
ganglion cyst, an accessory navicular bone, or a medial talocalcaneal
coalition) in or near the tarsal tunnel that had been treated at the same
time. Eleven patients (twelve feet [38 percent]) were clearly dissatisfied
with the result and had no long-term relief of the pain (a poor result).
The pain was decreased in six feet (19 percent), but the patients still had
some pain and disability (a fair result). There were four complications (13
percent): three wound infections and one delay in wound-healing. Twenty-two
feet had had preoperative electrodiagnostic studies; the results of
eighteen studies were considered abnormal and supportive of a diagnosis of
tarsal tunnel syndrome. However, there was no correlation between the
clinical outcome at the latest follow-up visit and the results of these
studies. Over-all, the patients in the current series had less improvement
than those who have been reported on previously.2
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Technorati What's this?
