Longitudinal Tear of the Peroneus Brevis Tendon

Longitudinal tears of the peroneus brevis are common injuries that may be found in symptomatic young adults and asymptomatic older patients. The injury is thought to be due to dynamic compression of the tendon against the retromalleolar groove by the overlying peroneus longus tendon during ankle dorsiflexion. Healing is prevented by continuing insinuation of the peroneus longus tendon into the longitudinal tear.

MRI reveals a C-shaped appearance of the tendon in the retromalleolar groove, as opposed to its normally flat shape in this region. The tendon partially encircles the peroneus longus tendon and the split fragments may be found medial, lateral, or posterior to the peroneus longus tendon.

References

Rosenberg ZS, Beltran J, Cheung YY, Colon E, Herraiz F. MR features of longitudinal tears of the peroneus brevis tendon. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1997 Jan;168(1):141-7.