Foot and ankle tendoscopies: current concepts review

Read the full article: Foot and ankle tendoscopies: current concepts review

Manuel Monteagudo

Ernesto Maceira

Pilar Martinez de Albornoz

Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2016;1:440-447. DOI:

10.1302/2058-5241.160028

Introduction

Advances in arthroscopic techniques and equipment have allowed orthopaedic surgeons to develop endoscopic procedures to visualise and treat different pathological conditions of several tendons around the foot and ankle.

Arthroscopy is now a well established procedure for foot and ankle disorders, but the relatively novel tendoscopic technique was first published by Wertheimer in 1995.1 In 1997, van Dijk, Sholten and Kort published a paper on endoscopy of the peroneal, anterior tibial and Achilles tendon sheaths, and named the technique ‘tendoscopy’.

Tendoscopy is usually followed by a functional post-operative treatment and has the advantages of less post-operative pain, fewer complications and being performed as day surgery.

Endoscopic approaches have been described for almost all tendons around the foot and ankle. However, we will review the most common tendoscopies in our practice namely Achilles, peroneal tendons and posterior tibial tendon (PTT). We will not cover flexor hallucis longus tendon endoscopy in the present review because of its access via posterior ankle arthroscopy.

In the current literature, there is poor evidence for most of the common indications of foot and ankle tendoscopies.

However, being a relatively safe and effective procedure in isolation or combined with other surgical techniques, orthopaedic surgeons have incorporated tendoscopies into foot and ankle practice. We review the existing evidence on the topic and an overview of indications, surgical techniques, results, complications, and the present and future of foot and ankle tendoscopies.