An unusual presentation of tarsal tunnel syndrome caused by an inflatable ice hockey skate.
BACKGROUND
Tarsal tunnel syndrome is a rare form of entrapment neuropathy. In athletes, it is usually the result of repetitive activity, local injury or a space-occupying lesion. Rarely, athletic footwear has been described as the primary cause of this syndrome.


METHODS
A 37-year-old male recreational hockey player was examined clinically and electrophysiologically because of spreading numbness in the toes of his left foot while playing hockey and wearing inflatable ice hockey skates designed to promote a better fit.


RESULTS
Clinical and electrophysiological studies revealed evidence of left medial and lateral plantar nerve involvement. Reduced amplitudes of mixed and motor plantar nerve responses with fibrillation potentials and positive sharp waves and no evidence of conduction block suggest that the primary pathology was axonal loss. Follow-up examination showed significant clinical and electrophysiological improvement after the patient stopped wearing his inflatable ice hockey skates.


CONCLUSIONS
We report an unusual case of tarsal tunnel syndrome caused by an inflatable ice hockey skate. The patient improved clinically and electrophysiologically when he stopped wearing the boot.
Watson
B V
BV
Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, London Centre, University Campus, London, Ontario, Canada.
Algahtani
H
H
Broome
R J
RJ
Brown
J D
JD
D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D006688:Hockey / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction; D012861:Skating / Q000293:injuries; D019876:Sports Equipment / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013641:Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*