Achilles Tendon & Rupture
PROF. DR. YAVUZ KOCABEY
WHAT IS AN ACHILLES TENDON RUPTURE?
Achilles Tendon Rupture & Tendinopathy
Achilles Tendon Rupture occurs primarily during explosive athletic push-off. Prompt diagnosis and anatomic restoration of tendon tension are essential to prevent chronic ankle weakness and loss of push-off power.
Symptoms of Achilles Tendon Rupture
Achilles Tendon Rupture typically presents with sudden, sharp pain in the posterior calf—often described as feeling kicked or struck from behind—accompanied by an audible “snap” or “pop” and an immediate inability to bear weight or push off on the toes.
Physical examination confirms the diagnosis through a palpable tendon gap and a positive Thompson calf squeeze test (absence of passive foot plantarflexion). High-resolution ultrasound or MRI precisely delineates tear location, distance from the calcaneal insertion, and tendon retraction.
Treatment Modalities
Treatment is determined by patient age, functional goals, and rupture chronicity. For active individuals and athletes, minimally invasive or percutaneous surgical repair provides anatomical tendon apposition, drastically reducing re-rupture rates. Non-operative management utilizes protected functional weight-bearing bracing under strict orthopedic supervision, followed by structured physical therapy.
In early Achilles tendinopathy, individualized eccentric loading exercises, shock wave therapy (ESWT), and regenerative biological therapies (PRP) stimulate biological tissue repair and prevent full-thickness tendon tears.
