“Double-bundle” tibialis anterior tendon transfer for prevention of pes equinus after Chopart amputation

Abstract

Objective: Assess patient performance and quality of the stump after amputation at the Chopart (midtarsal) joint, with double-bundle transfer of the tibialis anterior muscle tendon to the talar neck. Methods: This study evaluated the medical records of 5 patients who underwent Chopart amputation with double-bundle transfer of the tibialis anterior tendon to the talar neck, assessing pre and postoperative performance and gait. Results: The patients were operated on between January 2008 and December 2018, and the data obtained from the survey allow us to conclude that, after the proposed procedure, all patients reported an improvement in walking, besides noting a significant reduction in the degree of stump equinus. Conclusion: The surgical technique described in this article produced a significant improvement in patient performance as assessed by the AOFAS hindfoot score, and prevented the formation of ulcers in the anterior region of the stump. Level of Evidence IV; Therapeutic Study; Case Series.