Microvascular anatomy of the peroneal tendons.

The etiology of longitudinal splitting of the peroneus brevis tendon is unclear. It has been hypothesized that compressive load applied to the tendon as it passes through the fibular groove may compromise the vascularity of the tendon with resultant inhibition of the repair response and degeneration of tendon structure. To investigate this possibility, a study of the microvascularity of the peroneal tendons was undertaken. Twelve fresh, frozen cadaveric limbs were injected with India ink. The vascularity of the peroneal tendons was examined in situ and the tendons were harvested and cleared using a modified Spalteholz technique. The vascularity of the cleared tendons was evaluated utilizing a dissecting microscope. The vascular supply of the peroneal tendons arises from two posterolateral vincula, one for the peroneus longus tendon and one for the peroneus brevis tendon. These vincula are supplied by branches of the posterior peroneal artery. A zone of hypovascularity within the peroneus brevis or peroneus longus tendon correlating with the site of peroneus brevis splits was not found. There was no relationship between increasing age of specimens and alteration in vascular supply.