Delayed Diagnosis of Complete Achilles Tendon Rupture in a Teenage Athlete

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Abstract

Case: A 19-year-old female athlete experienced calf pain during sport. A complete Achilles tendon rupture was diagnosed 4 weeks after injury. Ultrasound revealed discontinuity of the Achilles tendon with 2.0 cm of diastasis, persisting in plantarflexion. Plantarflexion immobilization was initiated, and progressive dorsiflexion was used until 10 weeks from injury. At 1 year from injury, ankle magnetic resonance imaging revealed a contiguous tendon, the patient was pain-free, and had returned to high-level athletics with equivalent sport performance relative to her preoperative status. Conclusion: Certain Achilles tendon ruptures in young people may be treated nonoperatively with good clinical outcomes, even if diagnosis and immobilization are delayed and tendon diastasis persists in maximum plantarflexion.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere23.00624
JournalJBJS case connector
Volume14
Issue number1
StatePublished - Feb 2 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
COPYRIGHT © 2024 BY THE JOURNAL OF BONE AND JOINT SURGERY, INCORPORATED.

Keywords

  • achilles
  • delayed diagnosis
  • nonoperative
  • rupture
  • teenage

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