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Published August 25, 2021

Surgical Correction of Drop Foot by Posterior Tibialis Transfer

We retrospectively evaluated 8 male and 5 female patients (average age, 34.8 years [range, 16 to 59 years]) who underwent tibialis posterior tendon transfer to manage foot drop deformity secondary to insufficiency of the muscles of the anterior compartment of the leg. The tibialis posterior tendon was transferred onto the intermediate or lateral cuneiform, depending on varus degree of the forefoot, then pulled out through a transosseous tunnel and fixed at the plantar surface. Seven patients underwent Achilles tendon lengthening prior to tibialis posterior transfer. At mean follow-up of 24.38 months, results were excellent in five patients, good in five, fair in two, and poor in one based on the Stanmore scale (0 to 100). The mean Stanmore score was 78.9 (ie, good result). The mean AOFAS hindfoot score improved from 54 preoperatively to 72 at the latest follow-up. No major complications occurred. Two patients reported temporary discomfort due to a protuberance on the dorsal surface of the foot at the site of the transfer. The review of our personal case series has shown satisfactory results.