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Sonographic Evaluation and Sonographic-Guided Therapeutic Options of Lateral Ankle Pain: Peroneal Tendon Pathology Associated with the Presence of an Os Peroneum

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HSS Journal

Abstract

Clinical implications of acute injuries of the os peroneum have been described, with the recommendation in some cases being the excision of the bone fragments. We describe the spectrum of sonographic appearances associated with pain in the region of the os peroneum, document associated peroneal tendon pathology, and describe the use of sonography to direct and guide therapeutic and/or diagnostic injections. All sonographic examinations in our ultrasound database from Jan 1, 2001–Jan 30, 2007 with the words “os peroneum” were reviewed. Patients were cross-referenced in our radiology database to find relevant foot or ankle radiographs for correlation. There were 47 patients (18 men and 29 women, age range 16 to 83) referred for sonographic evaluation of lateral foot and/or ankle pain who had an os peroneum identified during the sonographic evaluation. Eighteen patients were referred specifically for targeted injection of the lateral ankle, including peroneal tendon sheath injections (N = 10), calcaneocuboid joint injections (N = 1), and injections around symptomatic os peroneum (N = 7). All 47 patients had tendinosis of the peroneus longus, in varying degrees of severity. Radiographs were available for correlation in 28 patients. The causes of lateral ankle pain with a co-existent os peroneum are multifactorial and may not directly relate to the presence of an os peroneum. Ultrasound can be of value in separating out the specific etiology for pain, as well as provide a method for problem solving by the performance of targeted diagnostic or therapeutic injections in the lateral ankle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology and Imaging, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Carolyn M. Sofka MD, Ronald S. Adler MD, PhD, Gregory R. Saboeiro MD & Helene Pavlov MD, FACR

  2. Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA

    Carolyn M. Sofka MD

Authors
  1. Carolyn M. Sofka MD
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  2. Ronald S. Adler MD, PhD
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  3. Gregory R. Saboeiro MD
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  4. Helene Pavlov MD, FACR
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carolyn M. Sofka MD.

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Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.

Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the reporting of these cases, that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study was obtained.

Level of Evidence: Level IV: Retrospective Case Series

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Sofka, C.M., Adler, R.S., Saboeiro, G.R. et al. Sonographic Evaluation and Sonographic-Guided Therapeutic Options of Lateral Ankle Pain: Peroneal Tendon Pathology Associated with the Presence of an Os Peroneum. HSS Jrnl 6, 177–181 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11420-010-9154-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11420-010-9154-3

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