Stieda Process as a Source of Posterior Ankle Pain: A Case Report with Its Structural and Clinical Implication

Posterior ankle pain commonly presents in young active populations.Several anatomical changes can cause posterior ankle pain like bony prominences, anomalous muscles, and ligament hypertrophies.An uncommon and unidentified cause of posterior ankle pain is the Stieda process (SP), an extended posterolateral talar process.In this case study, we discussed a 25-year-old young active female who is overweight having posterior ankle pain for the last 1 year.She was neither a dancer nor an athlete.The pain had no association with excessive plantar flexion.X-ray was advised which showed SP.The diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Conservative modality of treatment was tried first but the patient did not find much relief.So, an open surgical excision was done.At 6 months' follow-up, the patient again had pain in the opposite ankle.An X-ray revealed the SP.Surgical excision with similar postoperative rehabilitation was followed.At 1-year follow-up, the patient had no pain with full range of motion (ROM) of bilateral ankles.We also discussed various differentials of posterior ankle pain.