MR imaging of the tarsal tunnel and related spaces: normal and abnormal findings with anatomic correlation. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1990 Aug;155(2):323-8
Date
08/01/1990Pubmed ID
2115260DOI
10.2214/ajr.155.2.2115260Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0025336688 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 118 CitationsAbstract
The tarsal tunnel syndrome may be caused by extrinsic or intrinsic pressure on the posterior tibial nerve or its terminal branches. The specific symptoms depend on the extent of nerve involvement, and compression distal or proximal to the tarsal tunnel may result in variants of the syndrome. To define better the capability of MR imaging for evaluating this entity, we performed MR imaging on three normal subjects and correlated the images with cryomicrotome sections. Six patients with symptoms suggestive of tarsal tunnel syndrome also were studied with MR. In all normal subjects, MR images showed the flexor retinaculum and the structures passing deep to the retinaculum: the tibialis posterior tendon, flexor digitorum longus tendon, flexor hallucis longus tendon, and the posterior tibial neurovascular bundle. The medial calcaneal sensory branch(es) and the medial and lateral plantar nerves also were delineated. Mechanical causes of compression were shown in all six symptomatic patients. The pathologic entities included two neurilemomas, tenosynovitis involving all three tendons, a ganglion cyst arising from the flexor hallucis longus tendon sheath, posttraumatic fibrosis, and post-traumatic fibrosis with associated posttraumatic neuroma. The MR findings were confirmed surgically in five cases. MR imaging can accurately depict the contents of the tarsal tunnel and the courses of the terminal branches of the posterior tibial nerve. In our small series, MR imaging accurately showed the lesions responsible for tarsal tunnel syndrome.
Author List
Erickson SJ, Quinn SF, Kneeland JB, Smith JW, Johnson JE, Carrera GF, Shereff MJ, Hyde JS, Jesmanowicz AAuthor
Scott J. Erickson MD Professor in the Radiology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnkleAnkle Injuries
Fibrosis
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Neurilemmoma
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Tenosynovitis
