HomeBlogWhat is an Achilles Tendon Tear and How Is It Treated?
What is an Achilles Tendon Tear and How Is It Treated?
Achilles Tendon Tear Basics
This is one of the most common ankle tendon injuries. It occurs frequently in sports-related injuries with it being common in basketball. This type of injury is predominant amongst adult males between the ages of 30-50. Tears most often occur around two inches from where it connects to this area and affects the area’s healing ability.
Evidence of an Achilles Tendon Tear
If an Achilles tendon tear occurs, there may be a popping sound that occurs when the foot is flexed backwards at the time of the injury. This will be accompanied by severe pain in the back of the ankle and up the lower legs. This pain will occur immediately upon injury. Swelling may also occur. Depending on the severity of the rupture, movement may be limited when trying to extend the foot downward.
Facto an Achilles Tendon Rupture
Even though many individuals experiencing this injury have not suffered from previous pain stemming from the Achilles tendon, there are predisposing factors other than an injury:
Diabetes mellitus
Gout
Repeated trauma
Rheumatoid arthritis
Use of certain antibiotics
Hyperparathyroidism
These facto a tear apart from injury.
Severity of a Tear
Tearing can range from minor to flex the foot. A complete tear will be felt and will limit mobility.
Determining if an Achilles Tendon Rupture Has Occurred
There are several methods for determining if a tear has occurred. Plain radiography may be used topography of the tendon that may include shadowing within the area of the tear.
Treatment
Treatment methods for a tear in the Achilles tendon vary depending upon the extent of the injury. A partial tear may only require non-surgical methods for treatment. More severe ruptures may require surgery to immobilize the injured tendon may also be prescribed. This alternative is usually reserved for those individuals for which surgery is ill-advised.
In this instance, an athlete was originally diagnosed with minor quadriceps muscle strain and was treated for four weeks, with unsatisfactory results. When he came to our clinic, the muscle was not healing, and the patients’ muscle tissue had already begun to atrophy.
Upon examination using MSUS, we discovered that he had a full muscle thickness tear that had been overlooked by his previous provider. To mitigate damage and promote healing, surgery should have been performed immediately after the injury occurred. Because of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, the patient now has permanent damage that cannot be corrected.
The most important advantage of Ultrasound over MRI imaging is its ability to zero in on the symptomatic region and obtain imaging, with active participation and feedback from the patient. Using dynamic MSUS, we can see what happens when patients contract their muscles, something that cannot be done with MRI. From a diagnostic perspective, this interaction is invaluable.
Dynamic ultrasonography examination demonstrating the full thickness tear and already occurring muscle atrophy due to misdiagnosis and not referring the patient to proper diagnostic workup
Demonstration of how very small muscle defect is made and revealed to be a complete tear with muscle contraction under diagnostic sonography (not possible with MRI)
Complete tear of rectus femoris with large hematoma (blood)
Separation of muscle ends due to tear elicited on dynamic sonography examination
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