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Peroneal tendinosis as a predisposing factor for the acute lateral ankle sprain in runners

  • Ankle
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

A painful episode in the region of the peroneal tendons, within the retromalleolar groove, is a common precipitating event of an acute lateral ankle sprain. A forefoot striking pattern is suspected to cause peroneal tendinosis. The aim of this study is to analyse the role of peroneal tendinosis as a predisposing factor for ankle sprain trauma in runners.

Methods

Fifty-eight runners who had experienced acute ankle sprain trauma, with pre-existing pain episodes for up to 4 weeks in the region of the peroneal tendons, were assessed clinically. Fractures were excluded by conventional radiography. An magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan had been performed within 14 days after the traumatic event and was subsequently evaluated by two experienced radiologists.

Results

MRI revealed peroneal tendinosis in 55 patients (95 % of the total study population). Peroneus brevis (PB) tendinosis was found in 48 patients (87 % of all patients with peroneal tendinosis), and peroneus longus (PL) tendinosis was observed in 42 cases (76 %). Thirty-five patients (64 %) had combined PB and PL tendinosis. A lesion of the anterior talofibular ligament was found to be the most common ligament injury associated with peroneal tendinosis (29 cases; 53 %), followed by a lesion of the calcaneofibular ligament (16 cases; 29 %) and a lesion of the posterior tibiofibular ligament (13 cases; 24 %).

Conclusion

The results of this study reflect the correlation between peroneal tendinosis and ankle sprain trauma. Injuries of one or more ligaments are associated with further complications. A period of rest or forbearance of sports as well as adequate treatment of the peroneal tendinosis is essential to prevent subsequent ankle injuries, especially in runners. Modification of the running technique would also be beneficial.

Level of evidence

IV.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Pejman Ziai, Emir Benca, Reinhard Schuh & Reinhard Windhager

  2. Department of Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Florian Wenzel

  3. Section for Medical Statistics, Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics, and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Christoph Krall

  4. Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Martin Hofstetter

  5. Sporthopaedicum Straubing, Bahnhofplatz 27, 94315, Straubing, Germany

    Tomas Buchhorn

  6. Department of Traumatology and Sports Injuries of the Paracelsus Medical University, Muellber Hauptstraße 48, 5020, Salzburg, Austria

    Alexander Auffahrt

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  1. Pejman Ziai
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  2. Emir Benca
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  4. Reinhard Schuh
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  9. Tomas Buchhorn
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Correspondence to Pejman Ziai.

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Ziai, P., Benca, E., Wenzel, F. et al. Peroneal tendinosis as a predisposing factor for the acute lateral ankle sprain in runners. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 24, 1175–1179 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-015-3562-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-015-3562-3

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