Allograft Reconstruction of a Ruptured Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendon in a Professional Dancer: A Case Report.
Isabel Wolfe, Emilie R C Williamson, Katie Godwin et al.
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Case in brief
A professional contemporary dancer with flexor hallucis longus (FHL) stenosing tenosynovitis/tendinitis underwent tendon z-lengthening proximal to the intact tendon sheath after nonoperative management had failed. The tendon ruptured when he returned to dance. He then underwent FHL reconstruction using a tendon allograft and returned to unrestricted professional dance 11 months after reconstruction. This outcome was maintained at 4-year clinical and MRI follow-up.
What made this case unusual
The FHL ruptured after z-lengthening performed proximal to an intact tendon sheath, making reconstruction with a tendon allograft necessary.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
In a dancer with FHL stenosing tenosynovitis, tendon rupture can follow z-lengthening; this case documents return to unrestricted professional dance after allograft reconstruction.