Achilles tendon pain and related pathologies: Diagnosis by ultrasonography

A. Blankstein*, I. Cohen, L. Diamant, M. Heim, I. Dudkiewicz, A. Israeli, A. Ganel, A. Chechick

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: When encountering complaints of pain in the area of the Achilles tendon, the clinician seldom reaches a correct and precise diagnosis based solely on the grounds of physical examination and standard X-rays. Objectives: To assess the usefulness of ultrasound in diagnosing pathologies of the Achilles tendon. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients presenting at our orthopedic clinics. Results: Sonography was used to evaluate 41 patients with achillodynia. This modality enabled the diagnoses of 19 abnormal tendons (46%), peritendinous and other lesions; a complete rupture in two patients (5%); a partial rupture of the Achilles tendon in 3 (7%); various degrees of calcification of the tendon in 7 (17%); and peritendinous lesions discerned by the tendon's hypoechoic regions with disorganized arrangement of collagen fibrils in 4 patients (10%). Other lesions included tendonitis (3 patients, 7%), retrocalcaneal bursitis (3 patients, 7%), lipoma (1 patient, 2%), and foreign bodies (2 patients, 5%). The mean diameter of the pathological tendons was 10.4±2.7 mm, while normal tendons measured 5.2±0.8 mm (P<0.001). Conclusion: As in many other soft tissue lesions, ultrasonography is a useful tool in the evaluation of the underlying pathology in patients presenting with achillodynia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)575-578
Number of pages4
JournalIsrael Medical Association Journal
Volume3
Issue number8
StatePublished - 2001

Keywords

  • Achilles tear
  • Achilles tendinitis
  • Achilles tendinopathy
  • Achillodynia
  • Retrocalcaneal bursitis
  • Sonography
  • Tendo calcaneus
  • Ultrasound

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