All copyright remains with Sports Medicine Australia.
 |
|
|
Sunday 13 October - Poster Program
Ruptured tibialis anterior in a Gaelic football game: Surgical repair and rehabilitation
M. Constantinou*1 & A. Wilson2
1University Of Queensland
2St Vincent's Hospital, Toowoomba
The literature reports very few cases of traumatic tear of tibialis anterior
muscle (Freundelich and Dashiff 1987, Machani et al 2000), and none associated
with a sporting injury. This report describes the unusual case of a 22-year-old
female who ruptured the tibialis anterior while kicking a Gaelic football.
Impact was associated with a snap, severe sharp pain and immediate onset of
weakness. Physiotherapy treatment was sought five days later. Subjective
findings were: deep ache anteriorly on the lower leg, sharp pain on palpation,
weakness and limping during walking. The physical examination revealed foot-drop
on gait, poor dorsiflexion and absence of tibialis anterior tendon. Immediate
management consisted of taping the foot using rigid tape and referral to an
orthopaedic surgeon. Ultrasound scans were inconclusive with definitive
diagnosis made during surgery as a rupture of tibialis anterior at the
musculotendinous junction. The tendon had ruptured directly from the intact
muscle belly and was subsequently sutured back. Post surgical management
involved ten weeks immobilisation in a non-weight bearing rigid splint followed
by physiotherapy rehabilitation. Within five months post injury there was return
to full function and activity. This reports discuses the surgical management and
physiotherapy rehabilitation of a surgically repaired tibialis anterior muscle.
All copyright remains with Sports Medicine Australia.
|
|
|