Drop Foot With Posterior Tibialis Weakness Treated With Peroneus Longus Transfer in a Child

Case: An 8-year-old girl with a history of acute flaccid paralysis presented with chronic valgus drop foot causing tripping and falling. Traditionally surgical correction of this deformity is accomplished by transferring the posterior tibialis tendon to enhance dorsiflexion. The authors describe a new technique which transfers the peroneus longus tendon to the dorsum of the foot in a patient with weakness of the posterior tibialis muscle. The patient's drop foot and gait were improved at the 22-month follow-up. Conclusion: Successful transfer of the peroneus longus was accomplished with improved limb clearance during gait and coronal alignment in stance.