Abstract des Autors

Supernumerary muscular fasciculi are common at the ankle level, as elsewhere, and anatomical descriptions were made years ago. Although their causal effect in painful symptoms has been recently described, such accessory muscles are rarely involved and all other diagnoses must be eliminated before they can be implicated. In the past accessory muscles were discovered at examination of surgical specimens of soft tissue tumors; today supernumerary muscular fasciculi can be easily authenticated on MRI. At the ankle level, the most frequent supernumerary fasciculi are accessorius soleus, flexor digitorum accessorius longus, peroneus quartus and peroneus tertius. Their pathophysiology has only been partially elucidated but they can cause nerve trunk compression (flexor digitorum accessorius longus) or mechanical conflicts (peroneous quartus). A localized compartmental syndrome (accessorius soleus) is also possible. When their responsibility in painful symptoms can be formally affirmed, supernumerary muscles must be removed surgically. Verf.-Referat