CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Plast Surg 2019; 52(01): 100-108
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1688105
Review Article
Association of Plastic Surgeons of India

Tendon Transfers in Foot Drop

Sridhar Krishnamurthy
1   Institute for Craniofacial Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery, SRM Institute for Medical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
,
Mohamed Ibrahim
1   Institute for Craniofacial Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery, SRM Institute for Medical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
24 May 2019 (online)

Abstract

The common peroneal nerve is the most commonly injured nerve in the lower extremity. Peroneal nerve pathology results in loss of dorsiflexion at the tibiotalar joint, loss of eversion at the subtalar joint, and loss of extension of toes resulting in foot drop. The varied etiology of the problem is discussed. The various treatment modalities like conservative management, steroid therapy, nerve decompression, nerve repair, or reconstruction are described, but due to uncertain outcomes after primary nerve procedures, secondary procedures like tendon transfers often end up as definitive treatment. The rationale and technique of tibialis posterior transfer is discussed in detail.

 
  • References

  • 1 Huckhagel T, Nüchtern J, Regelsberger J, Gelderblom M, Lefering R. TraumaRegister DGU®. Nerve trauma of the lower extremity: evaluation of 60,422 leg injured patients from the TraumaRegister DGU® between 2002 and 2015. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 2018; 26 (01) 40
  • 2 Wiszomirska I, Błażkiewicz M, Kaczmarczyk K, Brzuszkiewicz-Kuźmicka G, Wit A. Effect of drop foot on spatiotemporal, kinematic, and kinetic parameters during gait. Appl Bionics Biomech 2017; 2017: 3595461
  • 3 Aprile I, Caliandro P, La Torre G. et al. Multicenter study of peroneal mononeuropathy: clinical, neurophysiologic, and quality of life assessment. J Peripher Nerv Syst 2005; 10 (03) 259-268
  • 4 Hemerijckx F. Report of the Activities of the Leprosy Control Campaign (1955–58) of the Belgian Leprosy Centre, Polambakkam. Polambakkam, India: privately printed; 1959
  • 5 Richardus JH, Withington SG, Anderson AM. et al. Treatment with corticosteroids of long-standing nerve function impairment in leprosy: a randomized controlled trial (TRIPOD 3). Lepr Rev 2003; 74 (04) 311-318
  • 6 Fritschi EP, Brand PW. The place of reconstructive surgery in the prevention of foot ulceration in leprosy. Int J Lepr 1957; 25 (01) 1-8
  • 7 Richard B. Surgical management of neuritis. In: Schwarz R, Brandsma W. eds. Surgical Reconstruction & Rehabilitation in Leprosy and Other Neuropathies. Kathmandu, Nepal: Ekta Books; 2004
  • 8 Andersen JG. Foot drop in leprosy and its surgical correction. Acta Orthop Scand 1963; 33 (01) (04) 151-171
  • 9 Becx-Bleumink M, Berhe D, Mannetje W. The management of nerve damage in the leprosy control services. Lepr Rev 1990; 61 (01) 1-11
  • 10 Naafs B. Bangkok Workshop on Leprosy Research. Treatment of reactions and nerve damage. Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis 1996; 64 (04) Suppl S21-S28
  • 11 Van Veen NH, Schreuders TA, Theuvenet WJ, Agrawal A, Richardus JH. Decompressive surgery for treating nerve damage in leprosy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012; 12 (12) CD006983
  • 12 Malaviya GN. Shall we continue with nerve trunk decompression in leprosy?. Indian J Lepr 2004; 76 (04) 331-342
  • 13 Palande DD. Preventive nerve surgery in leprosy. Lepr India 1980; 52 (02) 276-298
  • 14 Chaise F, Roger B. Neurolysis of the common peroneal nerve in leprosy. A report on 22 patients. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1985; 67 (03) 426-429
  • 15 Boucher P, Millan J, Parent M, Moulia-Pela JP. Randomized controlled trial of medical and medico-surgical treatment of Hansen's neuritis [in French]. Acta Leprol 1999; 11 (04) 171-177
  • 16 Kim DH, Kline DG. Management and results of peroneal nerve lesions. Neurosurgery 1996; 39 (02) 312-319 discussion 319–320
  • 17 Matsui H, Kanamori M, Kawaguchi Y, Kitagawa H, Nakamura H, Tsuji H. Clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics of compressed lumbar nerve roots. Spine 1997; 22 (18) 2100-2105
  • 18 Nath RK, Lyons AB, Paizi M. Successful management of foot drop by nerve transfers to the deep peroneal nerve. J Reconstr Microsurg 2008; 24 (06) 419-427
  • 19 Nath RK, Somasundaram C. Gait improvements after peroneal or tibial nerve transfer in patients with foot drop: a retrospective study. Eplasty 2017; 17: e31
  • 20 Kendall FP, McCreary EK, Provance PG, Rodgers MM, Romani WA. Muscles, Testing and Function with Posture and Pain. 5th ed.. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 2005: 408-411
  • 21 Brand PW. The value of surgical and physiotherapeutic measures in leprosy. Lepr India 1955; 27: 131
  • 22 Vigasio A, Marcoccio I, Patelli A, Mattiuzzo V, Prestini G. New tendon transfer for correction of drop-foot in common peroneal nerve palsy. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2008; 466 (06) 1454-1466
  • 23 Leclère FM, Badur N, Mathys L, Vögelin E. Neurotized lateral gastrocnemius muscle transfer for persistent traumatic peroneal nerve palsy: surgical technique [in French]. Neurochirurgie 2015; 61 4: 292-297
  • 24 Fritschi EP. Reconstructive Surgery in Leprosy. Bristol: Wright; 1971
  • 25 Watkins MB, Jones JB, Ryder Jr CT, Brown Jr TH. Transplantation of the posterior tibial tendon. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1954; 36-A (06) 1181-1189
  • 26 Codivilla A. On tendon transplants in orthopedic practice [in Italian]. Arch Ortop 1899; 16: 225-250
  • 27 Mayer L. The physiological method of tendon transplantation in the treatment of paralytic drop-foot. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1937; 19 (02) 389-394
  • 28 Gunn DR, Molesworth BD. The use of tibialis posterior as a dorsiflexor. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1957; 39-B (04) 674-678
  • 29 Ober FR. Tendon transplantation in the lower extremity. N Engl J Med 1933; 209: 52-59
  • 30 Thangaraj RH. Reconstructive surgery in the treatment and prevention of ulcers of the foot. Lepr Rev 1966; 37 (01) 35-37
  • 31 Soares D. Tibialis posterior transfer for the correction of foot drop in leprosy. Long-term outcome. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1996; 78 (01) 61-62
  • 32 Crenshaw AH. Campbell's Operative Orthopedics. 7th ed.. St. Louis: The C.V. Mosby Company; 1987
  • 33 Salihagić S, Hadziahmetović Z, Fazlić A. Classic and modified Barr's technique of anterior transfer of the tibialis posterior tendon in irreparable peroneal palsies. Bosn J Basic Med Sci 2008; 8 (02) 156-159
  • 34 Johnson JE, Paxton ES, Lippe J. et al. Outcomes of the Bridle procedure for the treatment of foot drop. Foot Ankle Int 2015; 36 (11) 1287-1296
  • 35 Srinivasan H, Mukherjee SM, Subramaniam RA. Two-tailed transfer of tibialis posterior for correction of drop-foot in leprosy. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1968; 50 (03) 623-628
  • 36 Srinivasan H. Atlas of Corrective Surgical Procedures Commonly Used in Leprosy. Chennai, India: Published by author, Janatha Printing and Publishing Co. Pvt Ltd; 2004: 150-169
  • 37 Clanton TO, Betech AA, Bott AM. et al. Complications after tendon transfers in the foot and ankle using bioabsorbable screws. Foot Ankle Int 2013; 34 (04) 486-490