• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.118-122
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• 2020

Background: Compared with conventional closed therapy, acupotomy has the advantages of lower cost, convenient application, and better single and long-term effects. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical effect of acupotomy in the treatment of Tarsal Tunnel syndrome. Methods: There were 80 patients enrolled into the study who were randomly assigned to either the acupotomy or closed therapy group, with 40 patients in each group. The acupotomy group was treated once every 6 days, on 3 occasions for the duration of treatment, and the closed therapy group was treated twice a week, for 3 weeks as the course of treatment. The effects of treatment were analyzed and evaluated according to the standard of curative effect. Results: The "cure rate" of the number of patients in the acupotomy group whose symptoms had completely disappeared (13 patient out of 39) was higher than the closed therapy group (1 patient out of 39), and this difference was significant (p < 0.01). The number of patients in the acupotomy group who did not benefit from the therapy (5 patients) was significantly lower than the closed therapy group (15 patients; p < 0.05). The total number of patients in the acupotomy group who benefitted from the therapy (34 patients) resulted in an effective rate of 87.18%, which was higher than the closed therapy group (24 patients; 61.53%). The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Acupotomy is effective in the treatment of Tarsal Tunnel syndrome, was superior to traditional closed therapy, and is worthy of clinical application.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2011

Background: Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is an entrapment neuropathy that occurs in the ankle. Previous studies reported that this disease was due to physiologic factors and structural lesions in the ankle or foot. The authors investigated the causative factors of TTS and their frequency via operative findings. The diagnostic value of MRI was also evaluated based on the concordance between the operative findings and the MRI findings. Methods: This study was performed in retrospective by using medical record of the patients who underwent operations with TTS from August 2003 to May 2010. Physical examination, nerve conduction study, and MRI were conducted on patients who visited department of neurology or orthopedic surgery due to pain and sensory abnormality of their ankle and foot. Results: 34 patients underwent the operation. Ganglion accounted for the largest portion of the operative findings. In addition, varicose veins, intrinsic foot muscle hypertrophy, tenosynovitis, and fascia thickening were mainly observed. Of the 34 patients, 33 patients underwent pre-operative MRI, of whom 18 patients showed MRI findings consistent with the operative findings. Conclusions: Space-occupying lesions accounted for the majority of the causative factors in TTS patients who underwent the surgical treatment. In this study, the MRI appeared useful for identifying causes of TTS.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.23-26
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• 2016

Purpose: Nerve conduction study (NCS) test is a standard diagnostic study of the tarsal tunnel syndrome. The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between the results of the NCS and postoperative clinical results. Materials and Methods: From June 2004 to July 2015, 104 patients were diagnosed with tarsal tunnel syndrome and treated surgically. Of 104 patients diagnosed through NCS preoperatively and postoperatively, 41 patients were included in this study. There were 23 male and 18 female patients with mean age of 49.2 years old and the average follow-up period was 15.5 months. NCS, pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and subjective satisfaction were examined preoperatively and postoperatively. Results: On the preoperative NCS, 32 patients (78.0%) were positive and 9 patients (22.0%) were negative, and 32 positive NCS patients consisted of 9 positive (28.1%), 16 improved (50.0%), and 7 negative (21.9%) postoperatively. VAS score was 7.4 preoperatively and 4.4 postoperatively. According to satisfaction, there were 8 excellent (19.5%), 21 good (51.2%), 6 fair (14.6%), and 6 poor (14.6%) patients. For 32 patients who were positive on the preoperative NCS, the postoperative VAS score was 4.87 and there were 7 excellent (21.9%), 16 good (50.0%), 4 fair (12.5%), and 5 poor (15.6%) patients. Sixteen patients were negative on the postoperative NCS, with a VAS score of 3.75, 1 excellent (6.3%), 11 good (68.8%), 2 fair (12.5%), and 2 poor (12.5%). There was no statistical correlation between the preoperative NCS and postoperative VAS score (p=0.10), between preoperative NCS and postoperative satisfaction (p=0.799), between preoperative NCS and postoperative VAS score (p=0.487), and between postoperative NCS and postoperative satisfaction (p=0.251). Conclusion: For patients diagnosed with tarsal tunnel syndrome and treated surgically, NCS showed little correlation with postoperative result.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2006

Background: Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is an entrapment neuropathy of the tibial nerve within fibrous tunnel on the medial side of the ankle. The most common cause of TTS is idiopathic. This is a retrospective study to define the electrophysiological characteristics of idiopathic TTS. Methods: We reviewed the medical and electrophysiological records of consecutive patients with foot sensory symptoms referred to electromyography laboratory. Inclusion of patients was based on clinical findings suggestive of TTS. Among them, patients with any other possible causes of sensory symptoms on the foot were excluded. Control data were obtained from 19 age-matched people with no sensory symptoms or signs. Routine motor and sensory nerve conduction study (NCS) including medial plantar nerve (MPN) using surface electrodes were performed. Result: Twenty one patients (13 women, 8 men, 9 unilateral, 12 bilateral) were enrolled to have idiopathic TTS (total 31 feet). Tinel's sign was positive in 16 feet (51.6%) of TTS and four feet (10.5%) in control group. The statistically significant electrophysiological parameter was difference of sensory conduction velocity (SCV) between sural nerve and MPN. Amplitude of sensory nerve action potential and SCV of MPN were not different significantly between idiopathic TTS feet and controls. Conclusion: Bilateral development in idiopathic TTS was more common. Tinel's sign and difference of SCV between sural nerve and MPN may be helpful for the diagnosis of idiopathic TTS.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2011

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) are thought to share a similar pathophysiology, compression of the median and plantar nerve by the carpal tunnel and flexor retinaculum. A few reports introduced the relationship between idiopathic CTS and TTS without definite evidence of coexistence. The current study was designed to analyze the electrophysiologic characteristics of combined idiopathic CTS and TTS by comparing with each idiopathic CTS or TTS. Methods: We retrospectively collected patients with combined idiopathic CTS and TTS (CTS-TTS group) from June 2001 to February 2009. Patients with each idiopathic CTS or TTS were collected as controls. Electrophysiologic data of median and plantar nerves were compared between CTS-TTS group and controls. Results: CTS-TTS group was composed of 31 patients. Control group of each CTS or TTS were 50 CTS and 49 TTS patients. In comparison of median nerve conduction study between CTS-TTS group and CTS control group, decreased compound muscle action potential amplitude (p<0.001), decreased median sensory nerve action potential amplitude (p<0.001) and sensory nerve conduction velocity at finger stimulation (p=0.013) were prominent in CTS-TTS group. Decreased medial plantar sensory nerve action potential amplitude (p=0.034) was indicated when CTS-TTS groups and TTS control group were compared. Conclusions: If the electrophysiology study of patients with CTS or TTS was suggestive of severe degree of nerve injury, concerns about the possibility of combined CTS and TTS would be helpful.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.106-108
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• 2023

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2003

Purpose: To analyze the clinical results of excision of the symptomatic or recurred ganglion cysts of the foot and ankle. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one cases of the ganglions located in the foot and ankle area were followed for more than 12 months postoperatively. There were 9 males and 12 females, and the mean age was 42.3 years (range, 11-71 years). The mean duration of follow-up was 2.3 years (range, 1.1-4.1 years). Clinically previous treatment, size and location of the cyst, preoperative and postoperative AOFAS foot score, postoperative complication and satisfaction of patients were evaluated. Results: As a previous treatment, 7 patients received mean 1.3 bouts of aspirations, and 6 patients were recurred after mean 1.5 bouts of operations. The size of cyst ranged from 1.4 cm to 5.1 cm with the mean size of 2.7 cm. The cyst was most common in the dorsum of the foot and ankle, where 14 cases were found. Preoperative mean AOFAS foot. scores were low in the cysts associated with the tarsal tunnel syndrome, which was 71 points, and in the cyst of the plantar aspect of the 1st toe, which was 79 points. Postoperative mean AOFAS foot scores were significantly increased to 91 points and 92 points in preceding two groups. There were 2 cases (9.5%) of recurrence, both of which had satellite mass along the tendon sheath. Conclusion: Care should be taken in the diagnosis and treatment of ganglions in the tarsal tunnel and in the plantar aspect of the 1st toe. In case of ganglion cysts originated from the tendon sheath, consideration should be given for possible satellite mass.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.214-218
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze domestic and foreign clinical research into ultrasound-guided Oriental medicine acupuncture. Methods: Ultrasound-guided Oriental medicine acupuncture studies were retrieved from PubMed, CNKI, KISS, NDSL, and OASIS. Results: Of 6,260 articles, 17 articles were selected. There was 1 article in 2004, 1 in 2008, 2 in 2011, 1 in 2012, 4 in 2013, 3 in 2016, 2 in 2017, and 3 in 2018. Of the 17 selected articles 6 articles were studies of omalgia, 4 of knee pain and 2 of peroneal nerve palsy. In addition, there was 1 article of occipital headache, 1 of neck pain, 1 of tarsal tunnel syndrome, 1 of angioma and 1 of hiccup. In these 17 studies the ultrasound frequency range where mentioned, was 5-14 MHz. Conclusion: This study provided basic data as reference for the design of more diversified and systematic clinical research in the domestic Oriental medicine community in the future.