Posterior Tibial Tendon Endoscopic Debridement for Stage I and II Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction

Adult acquired flatfoot deformity (AAFD), formerly known as posterior tibial tendon (PTT) dysfunction, is one of the most common problems of the foot and ankle. It was first described as tendon failure but has since been revealed as ligamentous failure in addition. AAFD is a spectrum of deformities that ranges from tenosynovitis (stage I) to AAFD (stages II-IV). Regarding mild stage I and stage II disease, it was once standard to perform an open synovectomy completely removing the inflamed synovium; this procedure required a large 6-cm medial ankle incision. Postoperative management included plaster cast immobilization for 3 weeks, followed by a boot with controlled ankle movement for another 3 weeks. Now, the standard is shifting to PTT endoscopy, which has proved to be an efficient way to treat tenosynovitis in stage I and II AAFD with a shorter postoperative period. Using this technique, we can achieve 360° visualization of the PTT within the tendon sheath, allowing for a complete exploration and debridement. We hope that by using this video description, practitioners could avoid the increased morbidity associated with open procedures, as well as help patients return to activity sooner after surgery.