-Review-

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: A Clinical Review

Hiroto Yoshida^1,2, Kyongsong Kim³, Takato Tajiri², Fumiaki Fujihara², Juntaro Matsumoto^1,2, Hiroshi Abe² and Toyohiko Isu⁴

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Matsumoto Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
²Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
³Department of Neurological Surgery, Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, Chiba, Japan
⁴Department of Neurosurgery, Kushiro Rosai Hospital, Hokkaido, Japan

Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is elicited by compression of the tibial nerve in the tarsal tunnel. TTS in the absence of a lesion tends to be idiopathic, and most TTS is idiopathic. Patients complain of several plantar symptoms, and TTS affects their quality of life. The symptoms tend to worsen with walking, and ankle joint movement and arterial distortion may also be involved. Because TTS symptoms are similar to those of diabetic neuropathy and lumbar disease, clinical symptoms are diagnostically important. While magnetic resonance imaging reveals nerve compression, it is difficult to identify causative factors, and false-positive results are a concern. Wound-related complications after TTS surgery may be reduced by a zigzag skin incision. Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome yields better outcomes and greater patient satisfaction than TTS surgery.

J Nippon Med Sch 2025; 92: 132-137

Keywords
tarsal tunnel syndrome, diagnosis, entrapment neuropathy, neurolysis, surgical outcome

Correspondence to
Kyongsong Kim, MD, PhD, Department of Neurological Surgery, Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, 1715 Kamagari, Inzai, Chiba 270-1694, Japan
kyongson@nms.ac.jp

Received, October 29, 2024
Accepted, December 20, 2024