ANATOMY OF 2ND MUSCULAR LAYER OF THE FOOT - CONSIDERATIONS FOR TENDONSELECTION IN TRANSFER FOR ACHILLES AND POSTERIOR TIBIAL TENDON RECONSTRUCTION

Controversy exists regarding tendon choice to substitute for a rupture d posterior tibial tendon. A similar debate about late Achilles tendon reconstruction also persists. To establish priorities and aid the sur geon's decision-making process, we studied 85 en bloc dissections of t he second muscular layer of the sole. Muscular and tendinous interconn ections were evaluated. Location and minimal donor deficit following h arvest of the flexor digitorum longus make it the transfer of choice f or posterior tibial tendon reconstruction. We suggest that relative st rength, anatomic location, and available length of tendon make the fle xor hallucis longus the superior choice for late Achilles tendon recon struction.