Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: An Ultrasound Pictorial Review.

Journal and index pages often block iframe embedding. This reader keeps the evidence details in Orthonotes and leaves the source page one click away.

Abstract

[Indexed for MEDLINE] 7. Anterior Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome. Dreyer MA(1), Gibboney MD(2). In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan–. 2023 May 23. Author information: (1)Intercoastal Medical Group (2)Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune Koppel and Thompson first described anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome (ATTS) in 1960.  ATTS, also known as deep peroneal nerve (DPN) entrapment, is a compression neuropathy of the DPN most commonly caused by the tight fascia band in the anterior ankle called the inferior extensor retinaculum. Two other anatomic locations of entrapment have been described and include deep to the extensor hallucis longus tendon overlying the talonavicular joint and deep to the extensor hallucis brevis muscle overlying the first and second tarsometatarsal joints. The deep peroneal nerve is one of two terminal branches off the common peroneal nerve (CPN). The DPN bifurcates from the CPN in the anterior compartment of the lower leg and travels along the interosseous membrane. Just proximal to the ankle joint, the DPN courses between the extensor hallucis longus tendon and the extensor digitorum longus tendon. It then divides into the medial and lateral terminal branches. The EDB and EHB muscles are innervated by the lateral terminal branch of the DPN while the medial branch runs beside the dorsalis pedis artery in the dorsal foot and is purely sensory providing innervation to the first webspace.  In the anterior leg, the DPN provides motor innervation to the tibialis anterior (TA), extensor digitorum longus (EDL), peroneus tertius, and extensor hallucis longus (EHL) muscles. The anterior tarsal tunnel is a fibro-osseous tunnel along the anterior ankle in which the borders include the inferior extensor retinaculum (superficially/roof), medial malleolus (medially), lateral malleolus (laterally), and the talonavicular joint capsule (deep/floor). Contents of the anterior tarsal tunnel include the dorsalis pedis artery/vein, deep peroneal nerve, tibialis anterior tendon, extensor hallucis longus tendon, extensor digitorum longus tendon, and peroneus tertius. The common peroneal nerve receives contributions from the L4 through S2 nerve roots. Symptoms of tarsal tunnel syndrome may include the following: Motor dysfunction as a result of atrophy. Loss of pain. Gait abnormality. Copyright © 2026, StatPearls Publishing LLC.