Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Due To Three Different Types of Ganglion During a 12-Year Period: A Case Report

An Update on Posterior Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Posterior tarsal tunnel syndrome (PTTS) is an entrapment neuropathy due to compression of the tibial nerve or one of its terminal branches within the tarsal tunnel in the medial ankle. The tarsal tunnel is formed by the flexor retinaculum, while the floor is composed of the distal tibia, talus, and calcaneal bones. The tarsal tunnel contains a number of significant structures, including the tendons of 3 muscles as well as the posterior tibial artery, vein, and nerve. Focal compressive neuropathy of PTTS can originate from anything that physically restricts the volume of the tarsal tunnel. The variety of etiologies includes distinct movements of the foot, trauma, vascular disorders, soft tissue inflammation, diabetes mellitus, compression lesions, bony lesions, masses, lower extremity edema, and postoperative injury. Generally, compression of the posterior tibial nerve results in clinical findings consisting of numbness, burning, and painful paresthesia in the heel, medial ankle, and plantar surface of the foot. Diagnosis of PTTS can be made with the presence of a positive Tinel sign in combination with the physical symptoms of pain and numbness along the plantar and medial surfaces of the foot. Initially, patients are treated conservatively unless there are signs of muscle atrophy or motor nerve involvement. Conservative treatment includes activity modification, heat, cryotherapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid injections, opioids, GABA analog medications, tricyclic antidepressants, vitamin B-complex supplements, physical therapy, and custom orthotics. If PTTS is recalcitrant to conservative treatment, standard open surgical decompression of the flexor retinaculum is indicated. In recent years, a number of alternative minimally invasive treatment options have been investigated, but these studies have small sample sizes or were conducted on cadaveric models.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome: Clinical-imaging analysis of a case series

BACKGROUND

Retrospective review of patients with a diagnosis of Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome (TTS) treated surgically.

METHODS

Retrospective series of patients with diagnosis of TTS operated between 2005 and 2020 in the same center. Variables such as age, sex, side, affected nerve or branch, classification, type of imaging study, biopsy result, infection rate, recurrence rate, sequelae, among others, were analyzed.

RESULTS

We included 8 men and 2 women with an average age of 47 years (range 34-67) and an average follow-up of 62.2 months (range 2-149). All cases were related to intrinsic compression. The most frequent cause was the presence of cyst (40%) followed by perineural adhesions (20%). The Posterior Tibial Nerve was the most affected (50%) and 30% the Medial Plantar Branch. Ultrasound (70%) and MRI (50%) were the most requested studies. There were no cases of postoperative infection. There were 3 patients who presented recurrence of the lesion requiring a new surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

TTS is a neuropathy involving the posterior tibial nerve or some of its branches. In general, it is caused by compression of the nerve by different structures such as accessory muscles and ganglions, among others. The diagnosis is eminently clinical, supported by imaging studies. Surgical treatment presents better results when the cause is an intrinsic compression, although variable recurrence rates are described.

Cystic Adventitial Disease of the Tibial Vein Arising From the Subtalar Joint: A Case Report

Soft tissue ganglion cysts are a well-known cause of tibial nerve compression in the tarsal tunnel. We describe a patient who presented with tibial nerve symptoms and was found to have an adventitial cyst of the tibial vein arising from the subtalar joint, with the joint connection confirmed both on imaging and at surgery. Surgical decompression of the cyst with transection of the vascular pedicle arising from the subtalar joint improved her symptoms at 6 months, and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging showed resolution of the cyst. Cystic adventitial disease is a rare, poorly understood condition in which a cyst is identified in the adventitia of a vessel, usually an artery. Only 3 cases of adventitial cysts have been reported in the foot and ankle region, 2 in the lesser and 1 in the greater saphenous vein. None of the previous cases have been recognized to be joint connected. This case provides additional evidence for an articular origin for adventitial cysts and helps guide management strategies for these joint-connected cysts.

Origin of Satellite Ganglion Cysts with Effusion in the Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendon Sheath around the Hallux

Background

To describe the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings of ganglion cysts with effusion in the flexor hallucis longus tendon sheath around the hallux to evaluate their origin.

Methods

Patients with recurrent or painful ganglion cysts around the hallux with effusion in the flexor hallucis longus tendon sheath who underwent surgical treatment at St. Vincent's Hospital from February 2007 to August 2016 were investigated. Surgical indication was a painful or recurrent mass caused by the cystic lesions. Those without effusion of the flexor hallucis longus tendon sheath were excluded. We assessed the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings.

Results

Magnetic resonance imaging findings in all patients showed several ganglion cysts around the hallux and large fluid accumulations within the flexor hallucis longus tendon sheath. Regarding the location, six ganglion cysts were on the dorsomedial aspect, one on the plantar medial aspect, seven on the plantar lateral aspect, and one in the toe pulp. Ten patients showed joint effusions in both the metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal joints, two in the metatarsophalangeal joints, and three in the interphalangeal joints. There were communication stalks with a tail shape or abutment between ganglion cysts with surrounding joint effusions. Intraoperatively, connections between ganglion cysts, the synovial cyst of the flexor hallucis longus tendon sheath, and surrounding joints were seen.

Conclusions

Synovial fluid accumulation in the metatarsophalangeal or interphalangeal joint supplies the synovial cyst of the flexor hallucis longus tendon sheath and subsequently ganglion cysts in the hallux. In clinical practice, the surgeon should carefully check surrounding joints with tendon sheaths to prevent recurrence of the ganglion cysts around the hallux.

Degenerative subtalar joints complicated by medial plantar intraneural cysts : cutting the cystic articular branch prevents recurrence

AIMS

The pathogenesis of intraneural ganglion cysts is controversial. Recent reports in the literature described medial plantar intraneural ganglion cysts (mIGC) with articular branches to subtalar joints. The aim of the current study was to provide further support for the principles underlying the articular theory, and to explain the successes and failures of treatment of mICGs.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 2006 and 2017, five patients with five mICGs were retrospectively reviewed. There were five men with a mean age of 50.2 years (33 to 68) and a mean follow-up of 3.8 years (0.8 to 6). Case history, physical examination, imaging, and intraoperative findings were reviewed. The outcomes of interest were ultrasound and/or MRI features of mICG, as well as the clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

The five intraneural cysts followed the principles of the unifying articular theory. Connection to the posterior subtalar joint (pSTJ) was identified or suspected in four patients. Re-evaluation of preoperative MRI demonstrated a degenerative pSTJ and denervation changes in the abductor hallucis in all patients. Cyst excision with resection of the articular branch (four), cyst incision and drainage (one), and percutaneous aspiration/steroid injection (two) were performed. Removing the connection to the pSTJ prevented recurrence of mIGC, whereas medial plantar nerves remained cystic and symptomatic when resection of the communicating articular branch was not performed.

CONCLUSION

Our findings support a standardized treatment algorithm for mIGC in the presence of degenerative disease at the pSTJ. By understanding the pathoanatomic mechanism for every cyst, we can improve treatment that must address the articular branch to avoid the recurrence of intraneural ganglion cysts, as well as the degenerative pSTJ to avoid extraneural cyst formation or recurrence. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:183-9.