Tarsal tunnel syndrome in patients with fibromyalgia

Yoon-Sik JO1, Bora YOON2, Jun Yeong HONG2, Chung-Il JOUNG3, Yuseok KIM2, Sang-Jun NA2

1Department of Neurology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Chungju, South Korea
2Department of Neurology, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea
3Department of Internal Medicine, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea

Keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome, electrodiagnosis, fibromyalgia, nerve compression syndrome, paresthesia, tarsal tunnel syndrome

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the frequency of tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) in fibromyalgia (FM) patients.

Patients and methods: In this prospective study, we investigated paresthesia of the foot, sensory and motor deficits, atrophy of the abductor hallucis muscle, and the presence of Tinel’s sign in 76 female FM patients (mean age 39.3±7.4 years; range, 24 to 52 years) and 60 sex-matched healthy control subjects (mean age 38.6±8.2 years; range, 28 to 49 years) without FM between July 2016 and June 2018. Bilateral electrophysiological studies of the tibial, peroneal, sural, and medial as well as lateral plantar nerves were performed.

Results: Paresthesia was observed in 22 FM patient extremities and four control subject extremities (p=0.002). Local tenderness at the tarsal tunnel was observed in 12 FM patient extremities and two control subject extremities (p=0.021). TTS was detected electrophysiologically in 14 FM patient extremities and two control subject extremities (p=0.009).

Conclusion: Paresthesia of the foot and local tenderness at the tarsal tunnel were significantly more prevalent in FM patients than in healthy control subjects. TTS is statistically more frequent in patients with FM than the normal population. The potential comorbidities of TTS and paresthesia of the foot should be carefully examined in FM patients.

Citation: Jo YS, Yoon B, Hong JY, Joung CI, Kim Ş, Na SJ. Tarsal tunnel syndrome in patients with fibromyalgia. Arch Rheumatol 2021;36(1):107-113.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Financial Disclosure

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.