TORSION OF THE TENDON OF PERONEUS BREVIS

The authors present a previously undescribed torsion located within th e tendon of peroneus brevis. The musculotendinous unit of peroneus bre vis was isolated from 46 lower extremities of cadavers. A goniometer w as constructed and utilized to quantify the degree of torsion located within each peroneus brevis tendon. Torsion was present in all 46 cada ver specimens, with a mean of 38.5 degrees and a range of 26 degrees t o 56 degrees. The regional anatomy and biomechanical functions of pero neus brevis are discussed, and proposed bases for the embryologic orig ins and functional significance of the torsion are presented.