Tendoscopic peroneal retinaculum repair for recurrent peroneal tendon dislocation enables earlier return to sports than the open procedure

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether tendoscopic peroneal retinaculum repair for patients with recurrent peroneal tendon dislocation (RPTD) is more useful than an open procedure. Methods Twenty-five patients with RPTD were retrospectively reviewed. Twelve patients (13 ankles) with RPTD underwent the open procedure (Group A) between 2008 and 2014, and 13 patients (14 ankles) underwent the tendoscopic procedure (Group B) between 2014 and 2017. Evaluation parameters included clinical results [the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot (JSSF) ankle-hind foot scale], operation time, complications, return to sports, and recurrence. Results Postoperative JSSF ankle/hindfoot scale scores were significantly better than the pre-surgical scores in both groups. The mean operation time was significantly longer in Group B than in Group A (75.7 +/- 20.5 vs 38.4 +/- 10.5 min). There was one recurrence in Group A, but none in Group B. Group A had no complications, and Group B had one wound infection. Group B, excluding the case of infection, could return to sports earlier than Group A, excluding the recurrent case (13.4 +/- 1.5 vs 12.2 +/- 0.6 weeks). Conclusions This tendoscopic procedure needs longer operation time and is more technically demanding, but it is a useful procedure, because it is less invasive and can accelerate return to sports.