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The Peroneal Tendons pp 77–95Cite as

History and Physical Examination in Peroneal Tendon Injury

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Abstract

Lateral ankle pain is an extremely common complaint generally caused by an acute traumatic event and can also present as a chronic condition. The differential diagnosis is extensive but a thorough history and directed physical examination and simple radiographic tests should provide the physician with an accurate diagnosis. Over-reliance on advanced imaging should not be routine; these tests should be ordered, when appropriate, to confirm a presumptive diagnosis.

The key to effective management depends upon a timely and accurate diagnosis. Lateral ankle pain may result from injury to or abnormality of an intra-articular, extra-articular, boney, ligamentous, muscular, or tendinous structure. Peroneal tendon pathology is not rare; but it is frequently diagnosed late, when an ankle fails to improve. The peroneal tendons can be affected by tendonitis, tendinosis, tears, ruptures, subluxation, dislocation, and fracture or diastasis of an os peroneum. An accurate diagnosis of peroneal tendon abnormality depends upon the physician being able to perform a competent history and physical examination, and being cognizant of the various types, grades, locations, and nuances of peroneal tendon pathology.

Keywords

  • Peroneal tendons tears
  • Peroneal tendinosis
  • Peroneal tendon subluxation
  • Peroneal tendon dislocation
  • Painful os peroneum syndrome
  • Peroneal tubercle
  • Peroneal compression test

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Wentworth Health Partners Seacoast Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Dover, NH, USA

    Mark J. Geppert

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Correspondence to Mark J. Geppert .

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  1. Private Practice, Atlantic Highlands, NJ, USA

    MD Mark Sobel

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Geppert, M.J. (2020). History and Physical Examination in Peroneal Tendon Injury. In: Sobel, M. (eds) The Peroneal Tendons. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46646-6_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46646-6_4

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