Traumatic Dislocation of Tibialis Posterior Tendon: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Traumatic dislocation of the tibialis posterior tendon is one of the significantly rare conditions that we might deal with in the emergency department. Approximately only 50 cases have been reported in the literature, and, usually, this condition is misdiagnosed as an ankle sprain in acute settings. It might be neglected in case of improper clinical examination and imaging techniques. We present a case of a 39-year-old patient diagnosed with traumatic dislocation of the tibialis posterior tendon as a result of twisting injury after falling from a( )1-meter jump height while playing basketball; the patient was clinically diagnosed primarily as a case of simple ankle sprain in the emergency department and treated conservatively with cold compression. The patient was seen in the clinic after five days with the same complaint, which was medial ankle pain without any improvement. Proper examination and imaging techniques lead us to the accurate diagnoses. The patient was managed surgically and had an excellent outcome postoperatively with a full range of motion of the ankle joint and full weight-bearing without any complaint. Tibialis posterior dislocation should be one of the possible differential diagnoses while dealing with any ankle injury even with unremarkable X-rays. History and physical examination, if conducted correctly, are the keys to making an accurate diagnosis. Therefore, we recommend a proper history-taking and precise physical examination with a high index of suspicion for any possible diagnoses. Early surgical intervention for such cases is the preferable method of treatment to avoid further complications and promote early functional recovery.