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Comparison of ultrasound and intraoperative findings in Achilles tendon rupture

Purpose: To assess the value of US in diagnosing Achilles tendon ruptures by comparing the imaging with intraoperative findings. Materials and Methods: 88 patients (81 men and 7 women). 23 to 69 years of age admitted to the Clinic of Traumatology, under the clinical diagnosis of Achilles tendon ruptures, underwent ultrasound examination of the tendon. The length of the tendon and the size of the defect were measured. On the basis of morphological findings and dynamic tests (dorsal flexion and extension) the lesons were described as complete or partial ruptures. These results were com¬pared with intraoperative findings. Results: The left tendon was more often ruptured (53%) than the right (47%). -'e most common sight of the lesion was the distal third (49%). The length of the tendon and the size of the rupture measured sonographically and intraoperatively proved to be highly related (almost linearly). 78 lesions were diagnosed as complete and 10 as partial ruptures by US. Intraoperatively 86 lesions proved to be complete and only 2 partial. This difference proved to be statistically significant. Conclusion: Ultrasound proved to be an excellent imaging method in confirming the clinical diagnosis of Achilles tendon ruptures — ultrasound findings of a lesion here proved intraoperatively in all cases. It is statistically less reliable when it tames to distinguishing between partial and complete ruptures. Most of the lesions that seemed as partial ruptures proved to be complete on surgery.

Achilles tendon rupture; ultrasound; intraoperative findings

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