A study of early post-operative active mobilization in Tibialis posterior tendon transfer for foot drop correction in leprosy patients-a surgical anatomy prospective.

Background: Immobilization or late post-operative mobilization after tibialis posterior tendon transfer for foot drop correction has been the conventional post operative management.

Purpose: To determine whether early active mobilization after tibialis posterior transfer for foot drop have a higher rate of tendon insertion pullout or not or is there any reduce rehabilitation time for Active Dorsiflexion, Plantar Flexion, Active Total Ankle Dorsiflexion.

Methods: This study was conducted at Leprosy Home and Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha which is a leprosy reconstructive surgery center, from October 2015 to September 2017. We performed a tendon transfer for foot drop correction in 49 Patients with Hansen’s disease with irreversible common peroneal nerve paralysis of more than one-year duration. The cases were followed up for at least one year.

Result: There is no incident of insertion pullout of the transferred tendon in any of the patients and having good outcome.

Conclusion: In Hansen disease early, active tendon transfer is feasible and safe method with no added risk of tendon pull out. There is earlier restoration of independent walking with early mobilization with reduction of total cost and loss of work for patients.