🦶 Peroneal Tendon Injuries: Types & Key Insights

1. Peroneal Tendonitis / Tenosynovitis

• Definition: Inflammation of the peroneal tendons, often due to overuse or repetitive stress.

• Symptoms: Pain, swelling, and warmth along the outer ankle, especially with activity.

• Management: Rest, ice, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and physical therapy.

2. Peroneal Tendon Tears

• Types:

  • Partial Tears: Involves less than 50% of the tendon cross-sectional area.

  • Complete Tears: Involves more than 50% of the tendon cross-sectional area.

• Common Tendons Affected: Peroneus brevis is more commonly affected than peroneus longus.

• Symptoms: Pain, swelling, and weakness along the outer ankle.

• Management: Conservative treatment for partial tears; surgical intervention for complete tears.

3. Peroneal Tendon Subluxation / Dislocation

• Definition: When one or both peroneal tendons slip out of their normal position, often due to a tear or laxity of the superior peroneal retinaculum.

• Symptoms: Snapping sensation, pain, and instability along the outer ankle.

• Management: Conservative treatment for mild cases; surgical repair for severe or recurrent cases.

4. Peroneal Tendon Tears and Instability

• Overview: Represents a spectrum of traumatic injuries to the lateral ankle, including tenosynovitis, tendinopathy, tendon tears, and/or tendon instability.

• Symptoms: Subfibular ankle pain with the sensation of apprehension or subluxation with active dorsiflexion and eversion against resistance.

• Diagnosis: Clinical evaluation and imaging studies such as MRI.

• Management: Nonoperative or operative treatment depending on patient activity demands, chronicity of injury, and peroneal instability.