title: Extensor hallucis longus coaptation to tibialis anterior: a treatment for paralytic drop foot.
abstract: Between June 1982 and April 1983, a procedure to coapt the extensor hallucis longus (EHL) to the tibialis anterior was performed in eight post-polio patients to correct drop foot and to enable the EHL to be a more efficient dorsiflexor of ankle. Although at early follow-up, every patient was able to actively dorsiflex the ankle against gravity, at final review, (mean follow-up 7.8 years), only two patients could still do so. Three patients developed a cock-up toe deformity or dorsiflexion deformity of great toe. We have attributed the poor final results to stretching of the coaptation. Use of splints or orthosis for a longer period postoperatively and a more carefully designed physical therapy may have yielded better results. Alternatively, if the EHL is anchored to navicular bone better results may be obtained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Asirvatham
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gillies
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005531:Foot Deformities, Acquired / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D016262:Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D013710:Tendons / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome