1. Foot Drop Dr. Ravikiran Chairpersons : Dr. Rupakumar .C.S.
Presented by : Dr. Syed Imran

2. Definition : Inability to actively dorsiflex and evert the foot.
Introduction : Foot drop is a condition where the propulsion is partially impaired due to changes in gait.

3. Anatomy of leg : Two muscular septa divide leg into three compartments
Anterior ( Extensor) compartment
Lateral ( Peroneal ) compartment
Posterior ( Flexor ) compartment

5. Extensor compartment

6. Lateral Compartment :

7. Posterior Compartment :

9. Common Peroneal Nerve Half size of tibial nerve L4,5,S1,2
Enters leg antero-
laterally
Branches

10. Sup Peroneal Nerve Superficial fibular N Deep to peroneus
Longus then passes
Anteroinf b/w
peroneus longus
and EDL

11. Deep peroneal Nerve
Oblique forward deep to EDL to front of interosseus membrane and reaches Ant.Tibial artery in proximal 1/3
Branches

13. Etiology : Neuromuscular disease Peroneal Nerve Sciatic Nerve
Lumbosacral plexus
L5 Nerve root
Spinal cord ( poliomyelitis, tumour )
Brain ( Stroke, TIA )
Genetic ( CMT )
Non-organic

14. Traumatic : Extensor and peroneal tendon injuries
Neurogenic
1. At level of common peroneal N
Direct injuries
Fractures and dislocations
# / dislocation head / neck of fibula
Dislocation of Sup. Tibiofibular jt
Dislocation of knee
Compound # upper 1/3 tibia

15. Pathogenic
High skeletal tibial traction
Tight plaster around knee joint
High tibial osteotomy
Total knee replacement
Others
Lat meniscal cysts,Exostosis,Tumour of head of fibula

16. Above level of Common Peroneal N
At the thigh : # shaft femur, penetrating injuries
At the hip : Post dislocation of hip,# hip
At the gluteal region : Deep im inj
At the spine : IVDP,Spina bifida, tumours

17. Infective : Leprosy,poliomyelitis, GBS, Syphillis
Metabolic : DM,Beri beri, Alcoholic neuritis
Exogenous toxin : Lead, arsenic, mercury.

18. Classification :
Seddon :
Neurapraxia
Axontemesis
Neurotemesis

19. Sunderland

20. Signs and Symptoms : Weakness of dorsiflexion and eversion of foot
High stepping gait : Foot slap followed by heel strike, toe drag during swing phase,increased hip and knee flexion
Sensory loss

21. Autonomous Zone of
Common peroneal N

22. Clinical Examination
Signs of motor denervation : Paralysis, loss of tone, areflexia, Insensibility to compression, atrophy
Signs of Autonomic denervation
Loss of sweating
Vasomotor
Loss of hair
Trophic ulceration

23. Diagnostic tests :
Nerve conduction velocity

24. Electromyography

25. Autonomic tests
Sweat test : Presence of sweat within autonomous zone indicates that complete denervation has not occurred.
Wrinkle test
Skin resistance test : Increased resistance to passage of electric current

26. Assessment of recovery :
Tinels sign
Motor recovery
M0- No contraction
M1- Return of contraction in proximal gp
M2 – Proximal gp + Distal gp
M3- Muscles can act against resistance
M4 – All synergistic independent movts possible
M5- Complete recovery

27. Sensory recovery
S0- Absence of sensibility in autonomous area
S1- Recovery of deep cutaneous pain
S2- Superficial cutaneous pain + Tactile sensibility ( some degree )
S3- Throughout autonomous area
S3+ - Recovery of 2-point discrimination
S4- Complete recovery

28. Management Conservative
Aim : Prevention of deformity and improvement of gait.
Proper positioning of foot splints
Passive movements of joints
Electrical stimulation of muscles
Ankle foot orthosis

29. AFO Functions : Provide toe dorsiflexion during swing phase
Medial and lateral stability at ankle during stance
Push off stimulation during late stance
Dynamic or static

30. Surgical management Neurorrhaphy Tendon transfers Bony operations
Choice of surgical correction depends on
Mobility of joints
Soft tissue and muscle contractures
Availability of muscles and tendons for transfer
Bony changes
Age

31. Neurorrhaphy Indications Clean and sharply incised nerve injury
Contaminated and nerve transection with ragged ends
Nerve injury following blunt trauma or closed fractures
Following closed reduction or manipulation of fracture

32. Techniques Epineural neurorrhaphy Perineural neurorrhaphy
Epiperineural neurorrhaphy
Interfascicular nervegrafting

33. Epineural Neurorrhaphy
Gap can be closed
end to end
Without
excessive
tension

34. Perineural Neurorrhaphy

35. Tendon transfers
When joints are mobile and muscles and tendons are available for transfer
Objectives
To provide active motor power to replace function of paralysed muscle
To eliminate deforming force when antagonist is paralysed
To improve stability by improving muscle balance

36. Principles of tendon transfer
The muscle to be transferred should be healthy
Muscle strength should be grade 4-5
Free range of movement in joint
Any bony deformity should be corrected
It is desirable to use synergistic muscle as it is easier to rehabilitate

37. Joints proximal to parts to be moved should be stabilised by tendon action
Tendon must be attached under moderate tension
If tendon is split, tension must be equal at all points
Nerve and blood supply must not be impaired

38. ober’s Technique

39. Barr technique
Make a skin incision on medial side of ankle from insertion of tibialis posterior and post to malleolus proximally along medial border of tibia.
Split the sheath in a proximal direction until distal 5cm of muscle is mobilised.

40. Make second incision anteriorly beginning distally at level of ankle joint extending laterally to tibialis ant tendon .
The dissection should be between tendons of tibialis anterior and EHL preserving dorsalis pedis artery.

41. Make a generous window in interosseus membrane pass tibialis posterior tendon through window between bones.
Expose third cuneiform or base of third metatarsal,incise periosteum drill a hole large enough to receive tendon and anchor in bone with a wire

42. Two-tailed trasfer Two tailed transfer of tibialis posterior
The tendon of tibialis posterior is identified through a small incision over the tuberosity of the navicular bone.
The tendon is then detached from its insertion and its synovial attachments are divided. .

43. five-centimetre longitudinal incision is made in the lower part of the leg close to the medial border of the tibia, about ten centimetres above the medial malleolus. The tendon of tibialis posterior is identified and pulled out.

44. The tendon is then split longitudinally into two “ tails “ up to the point where it will cross the tibia proximally.
Two transverse incisions are made on the dorsum of the foot, one over the extensor hallucis longus tendon and the other more laterally, over the tendons ofthe extensor digitorum longus.

45. A tendon tunneller (Andersen’s tunneller) is passed from the wounds in the dorsum to the wound in the leg. The tunnels are made subcutaneously.
Two separate tunnels are made for the two “ tails “ of the motor tendon.

46. The motor slips are pulled through
The motor slips are pulled through. One is implanted in the tendon ofextensor hallucis longus and the other in the tendons of extensor digitorum longus.
During this stage the knee is held in flexion of about 30 degrees and the ankle in dorsiflexion of at least 10 degrees.

47. After operation a below-knee plaster is applied, with the foot further dorsiflexed to release any tension on the tendon sutures during healing.
Six weeks after operation the patient is started on walking training. On the average the patient needs another two weeks to learn to walk normally.

48. Lengthening of tendoachilles
White technique
Use a posteromedial incision to expose the Achilles tendon from its insertion to approximately 10 cm proximally, preserving the sheath
Divide the posteromedial two thirds of the tendon near its insertion.
Apply a moderate dorsiflexion force to the foot, and divide the medial two thirds of the tendon approximately 5 to 8 cm proximal to the site of the distal division.   

49. Dorsiflex the foot so that the tendon lengthens to the desired length
Carefully close the tendon sheath and subcutaneous tissues to prevent adherence of the tendon to the overlying skin.
Apply a short leg cast with the ankle in maximal dorsiflexion.

50. White technique

51. Z-Plasty
     

52. Percutaneous lengthening

53. Percutaneous lengthening
Medial cut at the insertion of the tendon onto the calcaneus, through one half of the width of the tendon.
Make the second tenotomy proximally and medially, just below the musculotendinous junction.
Make the third laterally through half the width of the tendon midway between the two medial cuts.

54. Bony operations
When joints are stiff with muscle and soft tissue contractures and bony changes ( fixed deformities)
Lambrinudi arthrodesis
Triple arthrodesis

55. Lambrinudi arthrodesis

56. Lambrinudi arthrodesis
Recommended for correction of isolated fixed equinus deformity in patients older than 10 years.
Retained activity in the gastrocnemius- soleus, combined with inactive dorsiflexors and peroneals, causes the footdrop deformity.

57. The posterior talus abuts the undersurface of the tibia, and the posterior ankle joint capsule contracts to create a fixed equinus deformity
In the Lambrinudi procedure, a wedge of bone is removed from the plantar distal part of the talus so that the talus remains in complete equinus at the ankle joint, while the remainder of the foot is repositioned to the desired degree of plantar flexion

58. The Lambrinudi arthrodesis is not recommended for a flail foot or when hip or knee instability requires a brace
A good result depends on the strength of the dorsal ankle ligaments

59. Technique
With the foot and ankle in extreme plantar flexion, make a lateral radiograph, and trace the film.
Cut the tracing into three pieces along the outlines of the subtalar and midtarsal joints; from these pieces, the exact amount of bone to be removed from the talus can be determined with accuracy before surgery.

60. Expose the sinus tarsi through a long lateral curved incision.
Section the peroneal tendons by a Z-shaped cut, open the talonavicular and calcaneocuboid joints, and divide the interosseous and fibular collateral ligaments of the ankle to permit complete medial dislocation of the tarsus at the subtalar joint.

61. With a small power saw (more accurate than a chisel or osteotome), remove the predetermined wedge of bone from the plantar and distal parts of the neck and body of the talus. Remove the cartilage and bone from the superior surface of the calcaneus to form a plane parallel with the longitudinal axis of the foot.

62. Make a V-shaped trough transversely in the inferior part of the proximal navicular and denude the calcaneocuboid joint of enough bone to correct any lateral deformity.
Firmly wedge the sharp distal margin of the remaining part of the talus into the prepared trough in the navicular, and appose the calcaneus and talus.

63. Insert smooth Kirschner wires for fixation of the talonavicular and calcaneocuboid joints.
Suture the peroneal tendons, close the wound in the routine manner, and apply a cast with the ankle in neutral or slight dorsiflexion.

64. Complications Ankle instability
Residual varus or valgus deformities caused by muscle imbalance
Pseudarthrosis of the talonavicular joint.

65. Triple arthrodesis
The most effective stabilizing procedure in the foot is triple arthrodesis fusion of the subtalar, calcaneocuboid, and talonavicular joints
Triple arthrodesis limits motion of the foot and ankle to plantar flexion and dorsiflexion.

66. Indications To obtain stable and static realignment of the foot
To remove deforming forces
To arrest progression of deformity
To eliminate pain
To eliminate the use of a short leg brace or to provide sufficient correction to allow fitting of a long leg brace to control the knee joint
To obtain a more normal-appearing foot. Generally, triple arthrodesis is reserved for severe deformity in children 12 years old and older; occasionally, it may be required in children 8 to 12 years old with progressive, uncontrollable deformity.

67. Make an oblique incision centered over the sinus tarsi in line with the skin creases on the lateral side of the foot, beginning dorsolaterally at the lateral border of the tendons of the long toe extensors at the level of the talonavicular joint

68. Continue the incision posteriorly, angling plantarward and ending at the level of the peroneal tendons. Carefully protect the extensor and peroneal tendons, and carry the incision sharply down through the sinus tarsi to the extensor digitorum brevis muscle

69. Incise the capsules of the talonavicular, calcaneocuboid, and subtalar joints circumferentially to obtain as much mobility as possible. If this release allows the foot to be placed in a normal position, removal of large bony wedges is not required. If correction is impossible after soft-tissue release, appropriate bony wedges are removed

73. Cut the removed bone into small pieces to be used for bone grafting
Cut the removed bone into small pieces to be used for bone grafting. Place most of the bone graft around the talonavicular joint and in the depth of the sinus tarsi.
Correction is maintained with internal fixation, usually smooth Steinmann pins or Kirschner wires.

74. Close the muscle pedicle of the extensor digitorum brevis over the sinus tarsi to reduce the dead space.
Close the wound over a suction drain, and apply a well-padded, short leg cast.

76. Aftertreatment
Walking with crutches or a walker, with touch-down weight bearing on the operated foot, is allowed as tolerated. The cast and pins or wires are removed at 6 to 8 weeks, and a short leg walking cast is applied and worn until union is complete, usually 4 weeks more.

77. Thank You