Association of Posterior Tibial Tendon Injury with Spring Ligament Injury, Sinus Tarsi Abnormality, and Plantar Fasciitis on MR Imaging

• Published in: American journal of roentgenology (1976) Vol. 176; no. 5; pp. 1137 - 1143
• Main Authors: Balen, Paul F, Helms, Clyde A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Leesburg, VA Am Roentgen Ray Soc 01.05.2001; American Roentgen Ray Society
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Ankle - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Fasciitis - pathology; Female; Foot; Humans; Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Ligaments - pathology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Osteoarticular system. Muscles; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Tendon Injuries - pathology; Tibia; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Human; Evaluation; Radiologic sign; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Lower limb; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Trauma; Foot; Concomitant disease; Posterior tibial muscle; Plantar aponeurosis; Diagnosis; Tendon
• ISSN: 0361-803X; 1546-3141
• DOI: 10.2214/ajr.176.5.1761137

The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of abnormalities of the spring ligament, sinus tarsi, and plantar fascia revealed on MR imaging in a group of patients with advanced injury of the posterior tibial tendon. MATERIALS AND METHODS; MR images from 25 patients with advanced posterior tibial tendon injury were retrospectively examined for spring ligament, sinus tarsi, and plantar fascia abnormalities. These images were randomly compared with those obtained from 25 control patients with normal-appearing posterior tibial tendons. The spring ligament was abnormal in 23 (92%) of 25 patients with a posterior tibial tendon injury and seven (28%) of 25 patients with a normal posterior tibial tendon (p < 0.0001). The sinus tarsi was abnormal in 18 (72%) of 25 patients with posterior tibial tendon injury and nine (36%) of 25 patients with a normal posterior tibial tendon (p < 0.0132). The plantar fascia was abnormal in seven (32%) of 22 patients with posterior tibial tendon injury and two (9%) of 22 patients with a normal posterior tibial tendon (p < 0.0768). Two or more associated abnormalities were present in 20 (80%) of 25 patients with posterior tibial tendon injury and four (16%) of 25 patients with a normal posterior tibial tendon (p < 0.0001). Advanced posterior tibial tendon injury has a high association with spring ligament and sinus tarsi abnormalities on MR imaging. There was a low association between advanced posterior tibial tendon injury and plantar fascia abnormality. Patients with posterior tibial tendon injury often have abnormalities of two or more associated structures.