Peroneal tendon problems

Clinical presentations

The incidence and prevalence of peroneal tendon problems has not been determined. In Blackburn we see 5-10 new patients a year in a population of 260,000 and 1300 new referrals, implying an incidence of the order of 30/million/year. However, this is a general foot and ankle practice without a large sports medicine component and some sporting injuries may be seen by club physiotherapists or surgeons elsewhere.

There are two main types of problems, which are related:

• Tears and tendonopathy, and the related “painful os perineum syndrome”
• Instability of the tendons at the level of the superior peroneal retinaculum