THE INSERTION OF TIBIALIS ANTERIOR TENDON

Abstract

T ransfer of the tendon of tibialis anterior muscle is a common surgical procedure performed for the correction of equinovarus deformity of the foot. OBJECTIVE: To report on variations of insertion of tibialis anterior in the local population. DESIGN OF STUDY: Morphological study of 76 human feet by dissection. SETTING: Department of Anatomy, Nishtar Medical College, Multan, Pakistan. PERIOD: January 1996 to December 2000. MATERIALS & METHODS: Seventy six feet of male adult cadavers were dissected and pattern of insertion of tibialis anterior muscle in each cadaver was studied and the findings were recorded. RESULTS: Four varieties of insertion pattern were found. In 57.9% feet, the tibialis anterior tendon was inserted by two unequal slips; of these the larger slip was attached to medial cuneiform bone and the smaller one to the base of the first metatarsal bone. In 17.1% feet, the slips of insertion into the medial cuneiform and first metatarsal were of equal size. In 14.5% feet, the muscle inserted into the medial cuneiform by a single slip. In 10.5% feet, the insertion was by two unequal slips, of which the larger one was attached to the first metatarsal and the smaller one to the medial cuneiform bone. CONCLUSION: The pattern of insertion of tibialis anterior tendon in Pakistani population is different from the data available for some other regions of the world.