Tarsal tunnel syndrome caused by giant cell tumour of the tendon sheath: case report with review of the literature

Abstract

Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is an uncommon entrapment neuropathy caused by the compression of the posterior tibial nerve and its branches in the tarsal tunnel. It is classified as a rare disease by the Office of Rare Diseases Research of the National Institutes of Health, as it affects 1 in 1,500 people. It has a marginally higher incidence rate (56 %) in women. The most common causes of TTS are trauma (17 %), varicosities (13 %), talipes varus (11 %), fibrosis (9 %) and talipes valgus (8 %). Twenty to forty percent of cases have no discernible cause [1]. A case of tarsal tunnel syndrome caused by a giant cell tumour of the tendon sheath is presented. This is followed by a review of the literature.