RECURRENT DISLOCATION OF THE PERONEAL TENDONS

Peroneal tendon dislocations occur in sports, particularly in skiing a nd soccer. This paper presents the outcome of 15 patients with post-tr aumatic recurrent peroneal tendon dislocations, operated on with a sof t-tissue reconstruction of the superior peroneal retinaculum, i.e. rea ttachment and reinforcement, in combination with a retrofibular groove deepening. Mean follow-up was 3.5 (2-7) years after surgery. There we re no redislocations and no neurovascular injuries. The functional res ults were satisfactory in 13/15 (87%) patients, with full range of ank le motion and no pain. The two patients with unsatisfactory functional results had restricted ankle motion and pain on exertion. This simple reconstruction seems to be a good alternative to other more complex p rocedures and can be recommended in patients with recurrent peroneal t endon dislocations. Conservative treatment is not an option in patient s with recurrent peroneal tendon dislocations, due to persistent sympt oms of instability and pain.