Prevalence of Flexor Hallucis Longus Tears, Associated Os Trigonum Excision, and Return to Play

Posterior ankle pain syndrome has many etiologies. Two main causes of this are flexor hallucis tendon tear and os trigonum impingement. The current teaching is that patients with flexor hallucis longus tear complain of posterior medial ankle pain and those with posterior lateral ankle pain have an os trigonum impingement. It is also classically understood that patients with flexor hallucis tendon tears take longer to return to their pre-injury level of function. Our clinical experience refutes these reports and our study looks to further evaluate it.

This study brings back patients who were treated by the study doctor. The patient's preoperative evaluation will be reviewed including clinic notes and imaging. The operative reports for these patients will be reviewed to verify the surgery procedure performed. These patients will be included in the study and we will utilize the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Foot, Ankle, and Lower Limb module that they have completed postoperatively. This measure of patient's functional and subjective satisfaction has already been completed by patients at their regularly scheduled follow up appointments and is available for review.

Prospectively, patients will be asked to return to the clinic for a follow-up evaluation, which includes a standard x-ray. All patients will be consented prior to data collection, minors included in this study will be asked to sign an assent as well. Many factors will be assessed such as; a range of motion test of the ankle utilizing goniometric technique, nerve path and function, stability ankle grading, radiologic findings, and patient-reported outcomes filled out pre and postoperatively.