IATROGENIC POSTERIOR TIBIAL NERVE DIVISION DURING ANKLE ARTHROSCOPY

Ankle arthroscopy has been increasingly applied to the diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of ankle disorders. Owing to the complex cutaneo us anatomy of the ankle, neurological injuries are a potential complic ation of this procedure. All reports of neurological complications res ulting from ankle arthroscopy have attributed them to use of a distrac ter pin or to portal placement. Several authors have noted the possibi lity of damage to the deep peroneal nerve from the use of motorized ar throscopic tools within the anterior ankle joint capsule. We present w hat we believe to be the first reported case of complete division of t he posterior tibial nerve resulting from an apparently overaggressive intra-articular manipulation during ankle arthroscopy performed for lo ose body removal.