chronic Achilles tendon rupture

Last reviewed 01/2018

chronic Achilles tendon rupture

Chronic Achilles tendon ruptures usually presents due to misdiagnosed, neglected or unrecognised acute rupture (1).

• a diagnosis of acute Achilles tendon rupture is missed in more than 20% of cases by the first examining physician. These patients usually present with chronic rupture four to six weeks later (1,2)
• chronic Achilles tendon ruptures have become common as acute Achilles tendon injuries have become more frequent (1).

The gap present in acute rupture may be absent since thickened scar tissue usually bridges the retracted ends of the tendons in an attempt at repair

• this scar tissue is not as strong as the tendon and with time it elongates (1,2).

Reference:

• (1) Maffulli N, Ajis A. Management of chronic ruptures of the Achilles tendon. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2008;90(6):1348-60.
• (2) Maffulli N, Via AG, Oliva F. Chronic Achilles Tendon Disorders: Tendinopathy and Chronic Rupture. Clin Sports Med. 2015;34(4):607-24.