Endoscopic Gastrocnemius Recession

The isolated contracture of the gastrocnemius muscle has been recognized since 1913. Initially, it was associated with neurological disorders; but recently, this contracture has been associated with common problems of the foot and ankle, such as bunions, plantar fasciitis, and the acquired flat foot. Strayer, in 1950, modified the Vulpius procedure, but it was not used widely until Hansen popularized a modification of the Strayer procedure. The Strayer procedure was complicated by poor cosmesis, large incision, potential damage to the sural nerve, and skin contractures. Recently, the endoscopic gastrocnemius recession has addressed all of these problems and now offers a simple, minimally invasive procedure with consistent results.