FLEXOR HALLUCIS LONGUS TENDON INJURY IN DANCERS AND NONDANCERS

Thirty-one cases of flexor hallucis longus injuries in 26 patients wer e treated over a 16-year period (1977-1993). Groups were divided into dance-related injuries (group I) and other causes (group II), The two groups were compared with regard to age, activity, duration of symptom s, operative findings, histopathology, and postoperative time to resum ption of full activities. Twenty-seven cases required surgery for unsu ccessful nonoperative treatment. In group I, 71% of patients had a par tial longitudinal tear of the flexor hallucis longus compared with 30% in group II. Another common finding was isolated tenosynovitis (21% i n group I and 53% in group II). Eight cases had magnetic resonance ima ging (MRI) evaluations before surgery. Clinical correlation was found to be an important factor in interpreting the MRI. Dancers tended to h ave symptoms for a longer period of time before seeking treatment than did nondancers. Follow-up was 19.2 months for dancers and 25 months f or nondancers. Surgical correction of tenosynovitis, pseudocyst, and t endon tear yielded good or excellent results in 14 of 15 dancers and 9 of 11 nondancers. Surgical treatment of tendon tears and other pathol ogic tendon conditions gave consistently good results in patients with refractory flexor hallucis longus disease.