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Tarsal tunnel syndrome: still more opinions than evidence. Status of the art

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Abstract

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is an entrapment neuropathy of the posterior tibial nerve or its terminal branches within its fibro-osseous tunnel beneath the flexor retinaculum on the medial side of the ankle. The condition is frequently underdiagnosed leading to controversies regarding its epidemiology and to an intense debate in the literature. With the advent of nerve imaging techniques, the diagnostic confirmation and the etiological identification have become more accurate. However, management of this entrapment neuropathy remains challenging because of many intervention strategies but limited robust evidence. Uncertainties still exist about the best conservative treatment, timing of surgical intervention, and best surgical approach. In the attempt to clarify these aspects and to provide the reader some understanding of the status of the art, we have reviewed the published literature on this controversial condition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopaedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy

    Pietro Emiliano Doneddu & Luca Padua

  2. Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus Foundation, P.le Morandi, 6, 20121, Milan, Italy

    Daniele Coraci, Claudia Loreti & Luca Padua

  3. Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopaedic Science, “Sapienza” University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 3, 00185, Rome, Italy

    Daniele Coraci

  4. Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Sant’Andrea Hospital, “Sapienza” University, Via di Grottarossa, 1035/1039, 00189, Rome, Italy

    Giulia Piccinini

  5. Department of Neurorehabilitation, Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, Piazzale Morandi n.6, 20100, Milan, Italy

    Luca Padua

Authors
  1. Pietro Emiliano Doneddu
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  2. Daniele Coraci
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  3. Claudia Loreti
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  4. Giulia Piccinini
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  5. Luca Padua
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Correspondence to Luca Padua.

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Doneddu, P.E., Coraci, D., Loreti, C. et al. Tarsal tunnel syndrome: still more opinions than evidence. Status of the art. Neurol Sci 38, 1735–1739 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-017-3039-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-017-3039-x

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