Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

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[edit] Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

This condition is similar to a carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist area. In other words, it is a nerve compression. The posterior tibial nerve passes through the tarsal tunnel, which is a tunnel-like structure below the medial ankle. It can be compressed due to various reasons and cause pain on the inside of the ankle. Various conditions could bring this on such as abnormal foot motions, arthritis of the ankle, ankle tendonitis, or venous insufficiency with associated swelling (edema).

Ankle pain gets worse with walking and standing, and radiates into the toes. There is worsening of the pain with tapping the nerve briskly behind the medial ankle (called "Tinel sign"). Electromyography shows exactly where the blockage is located and this needs to be done before surgery would be contemplated. If nerve entrapment is proven by EMG studies, no time should be wasted to have a surgeon do a surgical release, so that the nerve does not get damaged permanently through nerve atrophy. This is called tarsal tunnel release.

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Neurological disease (entrapment of nerves)

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