Tibialis Anterior Tendon Rupture Surgical Treatments and Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Tibialis anterior tendon ruptures are a rare condition with an often-delayed diagnosis due to transient pain and compensation of remaining anterior compartment tendons. Previous systematic reviews have limited their recommendations to surgical treatment over nonoperative cares given the relatively small sample size in the literature. This current systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to compare the outcomes amongst the various surgical techniques and define factors that may affect long term patients results. Twenty-six references (217 cases) were identified. Use of extensor tendon autograft (odds ratio [OR] 5.55; I2=46%), autograft repair through semitendinosus/gracilis/ plantaris/ Achilles tendon/ peroneus longus ([OR] 4.14; I2=71%), or direct repair ([OR] 3.59; I2=57%), provided the best postoperative outcomes, whereas allograft repair ([OR] .52; I2=77%),and ipsilateral split/ turn-down tibialis anterior tendon ([OR] .69; I2=71%), were associated with poorer outcomes. Ruptures fixed in the acute phase ([OR] 8.3; I2=26%), were associated with statistically significant better outcomes when compared to these ruptures fixed in the chronic phase ([OR] .52; I2=77%). Results of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that ruptures should be surgically repaired in the acute phase whenever possible and comparable outcomes can be achieved through extensor tendon autograft repair, autograft repair, and direct repair.