Return to Sport after Surgical Treatment for Dislocation of the Peroneal Tendon: A Systematic Review of the Current Literature

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the return to normal activities and sports after surgical management of peroneal tendon dislocation through different surgical techniques. Methods: This review included studies (retrospective case series, prospective cohort study) that analyzed different aspects: return to sport (RTS), American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Score (AOFAS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), satisfaction, and redislocation episodes after surgical treatment. We performed a systematic review, analyzing 1699 articles. We researched our selected studies through PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane. The last search was performed in December 2022. We used the MINORS score to perform a quality assessment of pooled data. In total, 20 studies were included. Results: The postoperative AOFAS score, VAS scale, and high satisfaction percentages all improve with surgical therapy. At long-term follow-up, the redislocation following surgical treatment is minimal. Compared to patients who only receive superior peroneal retinaculum (SPR) repair and other surgical procedures, patients with groove deepening and SPR repair have greater rates of returning to sports (bony and rerouting procedures). Conclusions: Peroneal tendon dislocation surgery offers good outcomes, a quick return to sport, and high patient satisfaction. Those who received both groove deepening and SPR repair as opposed to other surgical procedures have greater rates of returning to sports.