SynthesisSkeletal radiology2026
Imaging-based prevalence of the peroneus quartus muscle and its association with peroneal tendon pathology: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Skeletal radiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- MRI-Based Morphologic Patterns of the Peroneus Quartus in a Korean Clinical Cohort: An Anatomical Study with an Illustrative Surgical Case.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
objectiveTo determine the imaging-based prevalence of the peroneus quartus muscle and to quantify concurrent peroneal tendon pathology among individuals with this anatomical variant. MATERIALS AND
methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane were searched from inception to 2025 for imaging-based studies reporting peroneus quartus prevalence. Overall prevalence was estimated using generalized linear mixed models with random effects. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic. Risk of bias was evaluated using design-specific Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklists. Subgroup analyses examined sex and laterality distribution among positive cases.
resultsSeventeen studies comprising 3,725 ankle imaging examinations were included. The overall prevalence of the peroneus quartus was 11% (95% CI: 8-15%), with substantial heterogeneity (I² = 80.5%). Among six studies (315 positive ankles), peroneal tendon pathology was present in 51.4% (95% CI: 41.9-60.8%). In three studies reporting tears in ankles with and without the peroneus quartus, its presence was associated with higher odds of peroneal tendon tears (pooled odds ratio 3.40, 95% CI: 2.03-5.68; I² = 0%; p < 0.001). The majority of studies (58.8%) were classified as low risk of bias.
conclusionThe peroneus quartus muscle is identified in approximately one of nine ankle imaging examinations, and in studies with a comparison group its presence was associated with higher odds of peroneal tendon tears. This supports the proposed crowding-effect hypothesis, although a causal relationship remains to be established.
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