Tarsal tunnel syndrome: Report of two cases with atypical etiology

Abstract

Tarsal tunnel syndrome involves compression of the posterior tibial nerve due to trauma, repetitive microtrauma, ankle fracture, tumors of the tunnel contents, and systemic diseases including ankylosing spondylitis, uremia, and rheumatoid arthritis. The symptoms are focal pain, and paresthesia over the distribution of the posterior tibial nerve and its branches. The diagnosis is based on physical examination findings and electrophysiological evaluation. Surgery is the only curative treatment. Here we describe two cases of tarsal tunnel syndrome, both of which arose due to unusual causes. One patient developed problems associated with deep venous thrombosis of the leg that occurred secondary to a spinal operation, and the second case was associated with rheumatoid arthritis. The patients were operated on under local anesthesia, and outcome was good in both cases.