Clinical Tip: Modified Uniportal Endoscopic Gastrocnemius Recession for Treatment of Gastrocnemius Equinus Contracture

Abstract

Gastrocnemius recession was first described by Vulpius and Stoffel in 1913 for gastrocnemius equinus contracture. Equinus contracture alters the biomechanics of the foot–ankle complex and affects other musculotendinous and ligamentous constrains in the ankle, contributing to many foot and ankle pathologies. The commonly used Strayer's technique has been modified, with the use of endoscopic approaches, to try to reduce the poor cosmesis and reduce the risk of iatrogenic injury to the sural nerve. This article aims to describe a simple uniportal technique that uses readily available arthroscopic instruments to perform endoscopic gastrocnemius recessions (EGRs). The leg is prepped and draped with a rolled towel under the lateral malleolus. A 10 mm incision is made over this point. The dissection is carried bluntly to the gastrocnemius aponeurosis. The fascia is opened and a McDonald or Freer elevator is introduced between the aponeurosis and the fascia of the soleus. A 4.0 mm 30° arthroscope is inserted beneath the elevator. A half-pipe (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen) is introduced over the scope which protects the sural nerve. The length of the aponeurosis is identified from proximal to distal. At this point, the sural nerve may be visualized at the end of the pipe. A triangle knife (Smith and Nephew, Andover, MA, USA) is then introduced with the sharp edge facing the half-pipe. The knife is then flipped 180° and tension is applied to the aponeurosis by dorsiflexing the foot. The aponeurosis is then released under direct arthroscopic vision. Chua KH, Yeap EJ, Chong KW, et al. Clinical Tip: Modified Uniportal Endoscopic Gastrocnemius Recession for Treatment of Gastrocnemius Equinus Contracture. J Foot Ankle Surg (Asia Pacific) 2020;7(1):28–31.