Surgical Experiences of the Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome.

Hong, Jae Taek; Lee, Sang Won; Son, Byung Chul; Sung, Jae Hoon; Kim, In Soo; Kim, Moon Chan

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2004;36(6): 443-447.

Jae Taek Hong, Sang Won Lee, Byung Chul Son, Jae Hoon Sung, In Soo Kim, Moon Chan Kim

¹Department of Neurosurgery, St. Vincent Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Korea. nslsw@vincent.cuk.ac.kr
²Department of Neurosurgery, Kangnam St. Marys' Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE
Tarsal tunnel syndrome is a rare compressive neuropathy. In Korea, the reported cases of the tarsal tunnel syndrome are mainly related to diagnosis, so there are only a few reports about the surgical result. We report the significance of the decompressive surgery for the tarsal tunnel syndrome. METHODS: Seven patients with tarsal tunnel syndrome were treated surgically. The patients were aged 31-70 years (mean 53.1 years), and all of them complained of pain or dysesthesia of the sole of the foot. The posterior tibial nerve and its branches were decompressed through the flexor retinaculum and under the abductor hallucis muscle fascia. RESULTS: Surgical decompression was beneficial in most patients with tarsal tunnel syndrome in their feet. Neither wound infection nor recurrence of symptoms was found during the follow up period (mean 12.9 months). CONCLUSION: Surgical decompression is the good option for the treatment of the tarsal tunnel syndrome, especially in the cases of short symptom duration or mass lesion.

Key Words: Foot; Tarsal tunnel syndrome; Decompressive surgery