Strength and Functional Impairment around Foot and Ankle Following Harvest of Peroneus Longus Tendon as Autograft

Background: Peroneus longus (PL), acts as a plantar flexor of the first ray, stabilises the medial column of the foot by depressing the head of the first metatarsal and maintains ankle stability. Increased harvest of PL as an autograft in ligament reconstructions is presumed to cause weakness and functional instability as donor site morbidity. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the strength and functional impairment around the foot and ankle following harvest of PL as an autologous graft. Materials and Methods: Selected 64 subjects with a history of use of Peroneus longus tendon (PLT) as autograft were assessed for Isometric peronei plantarflexion-eversion strength using an Indigenous wooden modified Sphygmomanometer device. The functional assessment of the ankle-foot complex was done with Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months of PL harvest. Results: Significantly higher plantarflexion-eversion strength values were observed for the sound ankle than the donor side in post-harvest at 6 weeks and 3 months ( P < 0.001; P = 0.004). Whereas at 6 months, no difference was observed ( P = 0.068). However, a significant difference was observed in the improvement of FAAM Score at 3 months and 6 months when compared to the 6-week baseline value ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: No significant decrease of plantarflexion-eversion strength or functional impairment was observed around the donor foot and ankle after 6 months of harvest of PL for autograft. The compensatory action could be due to the action of peroneus brevis in the long run. Hence, PLT can be safely spared as an autograft for various ligament reconstruction procedures.