Rare Combination of a Cuboid-navicular Tarsal Coalition with a Closed Tibialis Anterior Tendon Rupture: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Introduction: Tibialis anterior tendon (TAT) rupture and cuboid-navicular coalition (CNC) are rare, to the best of our knowledge, only 238 cases of TAT rupture and 34 cases of CNC are described in the past century. Case Report: A 47-year-old man came with a sudden onset of foot pain including drop foot to our department. We diagnosed a TAT rupture, which was fixed through suture. The pathologist testified degenerative changes in the tendon. In addition, a CNC was diagnosed. No extra treatment was necessary for the CNC. At the 6-year follow-up examination, the patient had no pain and went back to normal day activities (AOFAS 95/100 points). Conclusion: We presume that, in our case, the long-term stress at the TAT through the foot deformity, caused by the CNC, may have supported the tendon rupture. CNC normally is symptom free. Therapy of a painful CNC should start with a conservative therapy. When this fails, an operation can be considered.

[1]  M. Pinzur,et al.  Treatment of Acute and Chronic Tibialis Anterior Tendon Rupture and Tendinopathy. , 2017, Foot and ankle clinics.

[2]  J. Hamel.  [Diagnosis and treatment of tarsal coalitions and synostoses in children and adolescents]. , 2013, Der Orthopade.

[3]  A. Saxena,et al.  Cuboid-navicular tarsal coalition: report of a small case series with description of a surgical approach for resection. , 2012, The Journal of foot and ankle surgery : official publication of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

[4]  D. Wukich,et al.  Tarsal coalitions in the adult population: does treatment differ from the adolescent? , 2012, Foot and ankle clinics.

[5]  Charles Hounshell.  Regenerative tissue matrix as an interpositional spacer following excision of a cuboid-navicular tarsal coalition: a case study. , 2011, The Journal of foot and ankle surgery : official publication of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

[6]  V. Valderrábano,et al.  [Achilles tendon ruptures and tibialis anterior tendon ruptures]. , 2010, Der Orthopade.

[7]  J. Calder,et al.  Tarsal coalitions. , 2010, Foot and ankle clinics.

[8]  V. J. Sammarco,et al.  Surgical repair of acute and chronic tibialis anterior tendon ruptures. , 2009, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.

[9]  P. Laing,et al.  Cuboid-navicular coalition in an adult: a case report , 1999 .

[10]  L. Dias,et al.  Anterior Tibialis Tendon Ruptures: An Outcome Analysis of Operative Versus Nonoperative Treatment , 1998, Foot & ankle international.

[11]  Y. Takakura,et al.  Histopathological Study of Nonosseous Tarsal Coalition , 1998, Foot & ankle international.

[12]  H. A. Peterson,et al.  The relative incidence of tarsal coalition. , 1983, Clinical orthopaedics and related research.

[13]  H. Cowell.  Tarsal coalition--review and update. , 1982, Instructional course lectures.

[14]  A. Scheller,et al.  Tendon injuries about the ankle. , 1980, The Orthopedic clinics of North America.

[15]  D. Cavallaro,et al.  An unusual case of tarsal coalition: a cuboid navicular synostosis. , 1978, Journal of the American Podiatry Association.

[16]  R. Harris.  Retrospect--personeal spastic flat foot (rigid valgus foot). , 1965, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.

[17]  W. Waugh.  Partial cubo-navicular coalition as a cause of peroneal spastic flat foot. , 1957, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume.