Background

The close relation between the peroneal tendon and the peroneal tubercle has been well described by Sarrafian [1]. Other studies also described enlargement of the peroneal tubercle [2] leading in some cases to stenosing tenosinovitis [3–5].

Tendinopathies around the ankle are commonly described in long distance runners [6–8]. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no description of peroneus Longus tendinopaty and tear due to a prominent peroneal tubercle.

In this report, we describe two cases of long distance runners who suffered a tear of the peroneus longus associated with an enlarged peroneal tubercle. We discuss the clinical presentation and surgical management.

Case presentation

Case 1

A 58-year-old marathon runner presented with pain in the lateral aspect of the ankle during running. Pain was severe, with peak severity after 30 km of running and forcing him to stop training.

Localized tenderness over the lateral aspect of the foot was present on physical examination. It worsened with inversion of the ankle due to stretching of the peroneal tendons. Swelling over the lateral aspect of the calcaneous was noted, with no rubor.

Ultrasound (US) at the area of maximum tenderness revealed a hypertrophic peroneal tubercle and a thickened peroneus longus with synovitis around the tendon (Figure 1). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a synovitic, thickened peroneus longus tendon (Figure 2).

Figure 1
figure 1

Ultrasound showing hypertrophic peroneal tubercle and the thickened peroneus longus with synovitis around the tendon.

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Figure 2
figure 2

Axial MRI view showing the synovitic thickened peroneus longus.

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Nonoperative management consisting of rest and physical therapy did not provide relief. The patient underwent excision of the hypertrophic peroneal tubercle and repair of the peroneus longus tendon that had a partial longitudinal tear (Figure 3).

Figure 3
figure 3

Lateral approach to the lateral side of the ankle - tear of the peroneus longus just over the enlarged peroneal tubercle.

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Post-operative management included immediate walking with full weight bearing. Physiotherapy was initiated 3 weeks after surgery and he returned to running activity at 6 weeks. Four months after surgery, he finished the New York marathon.

Case 2

A sixty-year-old male jogger with no history of trauma developed gradual pain on the lateral aspect of the foot. He stopped jogging as a result.

Upon physical examination, localized tenderness was found over the lateral aspect of the foot. It worsened with inversion that generating peroneal stretching and with palpation over the groove of the peroneus longus tendon.

Computerized Tomography (CT) revealed a hypertrophic peroneal tubercle (Figure 4) and in sagital plane saw the enlarged peroneal tubercle and the thickened peroneus longus compared to the other healthy calcaneous (Figure 5).

Figure 4
figure 4

Coronal CT scan view showing the enlarged peroneal tubercle.

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Figure 5
figure 5

Axial CT scan view showing the enlarged peroneal tubercle and thickened peroneus longus.

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Conservative treatment resulted in no improvement. Surgical exposure of the lateral ankle disclosed a partial longitudinal tear of the peroneus longus over the enlarged tubercle. Excision of the tubercle was performed followed by suture of the peroneus longus. We noted an anomaly of the peroneus brevis, which was inserted to the peroneal tubercle.

Postoperative management included immediate full weight bearing and initiation of physiotherapy 3 weeks after surgery. He returned to jogging only a few weeks later.

Conclusion

The true incidence of peroneal tendon tears is unknown, with estimates ranging from 11% to 37% in cadaver dissections and up to 30% in patients undergoing surgery for ankle instability [9]. Hyer et al. studied 114 calcanei, in which the peroneal tubercle was present in 90.4% [10].

Most if not all publications, report a stenosing tenosinovitis without a tear of the peroneal tendon. We did not find any reports of a non-traumatic tear of the peroneus longus due to a hypertrophic peroneal tubercle. In 2006, Sugimoto reported three cases of peroneal tenosynovitis due to an enlarged peroneal tubercle in association with Sural nerve entrapment [11].

In the 2 cases reported here, the gradually increasing lateral ankle pain and decrease performance of the runners led to suspected chronic injury of the peroneal tendons. Exploration with simple radiography or CT can demonstrate the peroneal tubercle and provide information about existing hypertrophy. Sobel et al. stated that plain radiography using the Harris Heel view could be used to demonstrate the presence of an enlarged peroneal tubercle [5]. In addition, MRI can show peroneal tendon damage and bone marrow edema.

In our patients, accurate diagnosis was made by US, CT and MRI. US dynamically demonstrated the friction of the tendon over the enlarged peroneal tubercle. This is the preferred method for demonstrating the pathological mechanism.

We think that the tear in our patients was caused by chronic friction of the peroneus longus tendon over the hypertrophic peroneal tubercle, leading to longitudinal tear. The tear was located exactly over the enlarged peroneal tubercle.

Operative treatment consisting of excision of the tubercle and suture of the tendon, leading to good results with rapid return to sport activity. Additional studies are needed to enable better understand of the physiopathology of the hypertrophic peroneal tubercle and the kinematics of the peroneal tendon after tubercle resection.

Chronic friction of the peroneus longus tendon over a hypertrophic peroneal tubercle can lead to a longitudinal tear. Simple excision of the tubercle with suturing of the tendon yielded good results.

Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this Case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor of this journal.