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Tibialis posterior tendon transfer effectively corrects foot drop in cavovarus foot deformity
Tibialis posterior tendon transfer effectively corrected the foot drop component of cavovarus foot deformity for patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
“The tendon transfer appeared to function as an active substitution,” the researchers stated in the study. “Although passive plantar flexion was not limited after surgery, active plantar flexion at push-off was significantly reduced.”
Researchers studied 14 patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and cavovarus foot deformity. As part of a foot deformity correction procedure, researchers treated 23 feet with tibialis posterior tendon transfer to correct the foot drop component of cavovarus foot deformity. Five patients underwent unilateral treatment and nine patients underwent bilateral treatment. Only one foot was analyzed in each of the latter patients. Researchers performed standardized clinical examinations and 3-D gait analysis with a special foot model before and at a mean of 28.8 months postoperatively.
Study results indicate that tibiotalar and foot-tibia dorsiflexion increased during the swing phase after surgery. A significant reduction in maximum plantar flexion at the stance-swing transition without a reduction in active range of motion accompanied the increases. Researchers found passive ankle dorsiflexion measured in knee flexion and extension increased without a decrease in passive plantar flexion. Patients’ American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society scores also improved.
“Further studies should investigate whether this reduction is an effect of tenodesis or of calf muscle weakness, the cause of which may be multifactorial,” the authors wrote.
Disclosure: The researchers have no relevant financial disclosures.