Abstract
Objective: Indicate aspects of interest to orthopedists on anatomical characteristics, histological aspects, their pathophysiology and therapeutic management for the posterior tibial tendon (PTT) degeneration, emphasizing the vascularization factor. Methods: An integrative review was carried out by searching the databases: CAPES academic portal, Scielo, Virtual Health Library (VHL) and PUBMED, which included scientific articles and dissertations in Portuguese and English, in period 2000 to 2020. Results: 552 articles were found, and, after analyzing the eligibility criteria, 21 articles were selected. Degeneration of PTT is a common but often misdiagnosed condition. It causes a progressive and painful deformity called “flat foot”. Anatomy and vascularization expose the PTT region to major degenerative disorders to the point of even a rupture. A low blood supply zone in this tendon has been reported in the literature, which appears to be directly associated with the site of greater frequency of degenerative lesions. Final considerations: Literature data showed a low blood supply zone of the Gliding tendon, which appears to be directly associated with the place of greatest prevalence of degenerative injuries. However, the vascular mechanisms of this degeneration are still unknown and further studies are needed.