Clinical Results of Tarsal Tunnel Decompression in Case of Known Etiology

Sung, Ki Sun; Park, Se Jun

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to present our clinical results after surgical treatment in tarsal tunnel syndrome due to space occupying lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed surgical decompression for tarsal tunnel syndrome in 20 patients from July 2004 to February 2007. Out of them, thirteen cases were due to space occupying lesions around the tarsal tunnel. The average age at operation was 51.3 years old and the duration from symptom onset to surgery was 16.5 months. The operation included removal of space occupying lesions and tarsal tunnel decompression. The clinical parameters were pain visual analogue scale (VAS), AOFAS scale, and subjective satisfaction.
RESULTS
The ganglion cysts were the most frequent causes (ten cases) and synovial chondromatosis in 1 case, neurofibroma in 1 case, talocalcaneal coalition in 1 case. The average follow-up duration was 14.5 months. The AOFAS scale showed significant improvement from 77.8 to 92.7. The average VAS decreased from 6.4 to 2.2. Seven out of thirteen patients were satisfied with the results. The excellent results were shown in six patients, the good results in one patient, the fair result in three patients and the unsatisfactory results in three patients.
CONCLUSION
Favorable results could be obtained in patients with known etiology. But not all cases with surgical decompression of space occupying lesions showed satisfactory results. We assume that the clinical results were related to the multiple factors, not only well performed surgery but also age, size lesions and duration of symptoms, ect.