Dear Editor:
We have had the opportunity to review the correspondence from Richard Jay, DPM, regarding our recent contribution to the Journal. In this letter, Dr Jay opines that our manuscript did not credit the original source and, as such, suggests that our technique is not new. First of all, we would like to thank Dr Jay for sending us a copy of his publication in order to comment on the issues brought forth in his letter, as we were unable to locate or retrieve it with the common electronic databases and search engines that are available in modern literary convention. We might have discovered their article and referenced it therein, if it had been published in indexed publications.
We agree that the use of peroneus longus for lateral ankle stabilization procedures is not “new.” In fact, the use of that particular tendon has been described numerous times in the past. There are references dating back to 1945, 1954, and 1977 (
1
, 2
, 3
), well before the 1989 publication from Drs Schoenhaus and Jay (4
). Subsequently, other authors have also discussed the use of peroneus longus for lateral ankle stabilization (5
).The fundamental tenet of our manuscript is clearly articulated within, and is predicated on a precise anatomic course of the reconstructed ligaments, in contradistinction to the course of the peroneus longus in the article by Drs Schoenhaus and Jay. Although there are no pictures or diagrams, the course of the transferred peroneus longus tendon described by Drs Schoenhaus and Jay is clearly not an anatomic one. Primarily, this is because the peroneus longus is not anchored to the talus and calcaneus, a prerequisite and obligate condition for an anatomic repair. As Dr Jay points out in his letter, their article was included in McGlamry's Textbook, but is listed under “non-anatomic repairs” (
6
). Further, our manuscript discusses the ease of modulation and capture of the tension of the transferred tendon with the use of interference screws. Upon comparison of Drs Schoenhaus and Jay's publication with ours, it is clear that the only synchronous feature is indeed use of the peroneus longus. Our intention was not to slight Drs Jay and Schoenhaus or any of the authors who used peroneus longus either before or after their article. Yet no prior publication discusses an anatomic route of the peroneus longus for re-creation of the lateral ligament complex.References
- Recurrent dislocation of the ankle due to rupture of the external lateral ligament.Br Med J. 1945; 1: 413
- Cited in Brostrom L. Sprained ankles. VI. Surgical treatment of chronic ligament ruptures.Acta Chir Scand. 1966; 132: 552
- Lateral ligamentous instability of the ankle: a method of surgical reconstruction by a modified Watson-Jones technique.Am J Sports Med. 1977; 5: 78-83
Schoenhaus HD, Jay RM. Peroneus Longus: A modified ankle stabilization. Current Therapy in Podiatric Surgery, Pp 283-285. B.C. Decker, Philadelphia, 1989.
- The split peroneus longus lateral ankle stabilization procedure.J Foot Ankle Surg. 1994; 33: 298-313
- Chronic ankle conditions.in: Banks A.S. Downey M.S. Martin D.E. Miller S.J. McGlamry's Comprehensive Textbook of Foot and Ankle Surgery. ed 3. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia2001: 1120
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Published online: April 05, 2010
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© 2010 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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- Letter to the EditorThe Journal of Foot and Ankle SurgeryVol. 49Issue 3
