Rare Combination of a Cuboid-navicular Tarsal Coalition with a Closed Tibialis Anterior Tendon Rupture: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Introduction: Tibialis anterior tendon (TAT) rupture and cuboid-navicular coalition (CNC) are rare, to the best of our knowledge, only 238 cases of TAT rupture and 34 cases of CNC are described in the past century.

Case Report: A 47-year-old man came with a sudden onset of foot pain including drop foot to our department. We diagnosed a TAT rupture, which was fixed through suture. The pathologist testified degenerative changes in the tendon. In addition, a CNC was diagnosed. No extra treatment was necessary for the CNC. At the 6-year follow-up examination, the patient had no pain and went back to normal day activities (AOFAS 95/100 points).

Conclusion: We presume that, in our case, the long-term stress at the TAT through the foot deformity, caused by the CNC, may have supported the tendon rupture. CNC normally is symptom free. Therapy of a painful CNC should start with a conservative therapy. When this fails, an operation can be considered.