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Case Reports
. 2017 May 3:2017:bcr2017219834.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2017-219834.

Compensating for loss: running on one tibialis anterior

Richard A C Dimock  1 , Edward John Christopher Dawe  2   3 , Olusegun Aiyenuro  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Compensating for loss: running on one tibialis anterior

Richard A C Dimock et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

Rupture of the tibialis anterior (TA) tendon is rare and may be either traumatic or spontaneous. TA is the main ankle dorsiflexor, providing 80% of the power, as well as contributing to inversion of the foot. We describe a case of an 84-year-old male who was incidentally diagnosed with absence of his left TA at age 46 while preparing for his first-ever marathon. There was no history of specific injury to this tendon. He subsequently went on to lead an active sporting life, completing over 20 marathons with a best time of 3 hours 12 min.

Keywords: Orthopaedic and trauma surgery; Orthopaedics; Tendon rupture.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Both ankles. EHL, extensor halluces longus.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Axial cut from T2-weighted MRI of both legs showing fatty replacement of left TA muscle belly.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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