What causes a ruptured Achilles tendon?
As with any muscle or tendon in the body, the Achilles tendon can be
torn if there is a high force or stress on it. This can happen with
activities which involve a forceful push off with the foot - for
example, in football, running, basketball, diving, and tennis. The push
off movement uses a strong contraction of the calf muscles which can
stress the Achilles tendon too much.
The Achilles tendon can
also be damaged by injuries such as falls, if the foot is suddenly
forced into an upward pointing position - this movement stretches the
tendon. Another possible injury is a deep cut at the back of the ankle,
which might go into the tendon.
Sometimes the Achilles tendon is weak, making it more prone to rupture. Factors that weaken the Achilles tendon are:
- Corticosteroid medication (such as prednisolone) - mainly if it is used as long-term treatment rather than a short course.
- Corticosteroid injection near the Achilles tendon.
- Older age (60 years onwards).
- Certain rare medical conditions such as Cushing's syndrome, where the body makes too much of its own corticosteroid hormones.
- 'Tendonitis' (inflammation) of the Achilles tendon.
- Other medical conditions can make the tendon more prone to rupture: rheumatoid arthritis, gout and SLE (lupus).
- Certain antibiotics may slightly increase the risk of having an
Achilles tendon rupture. These are the 'quinolone' antibiotics such as
ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin. The risk of having an Achilles tendon
rupture with these antibiotics is actually very low, and mainly applies
if you are also taking corticosteroid medication or are over age 60.
How common is Achilles tendon rupture?
It affects about 1 in 5,000 people at any one time.
What are the symptoms of Achilles tendon rupture?
You may
notice the symptoms come on suddenly during a sporting activity or
injury. You might hear a snap or feel a sudden sharp pain when the
tendon is torn. The sharp pain usually settles quickly, although there
may be some aching at the back of the lower leg. After the injury, the
usual symptoms are:
- A 'flat footed' type of walk. You can
walk and bear weight, but cannot push of the ground properly on the
side where the tendon is ruptured.
- Inability to stand on tiptoe.
- If the tendon is completely torn, you may feel a gap just above the
back of the heel. However, if there is bruising then the swelling may
disguise the gap.
If you suspect an Achilles tendon rupture, it is best to see a doctor urgently, because the tendon heals better if treated sooner rather than later.
How is an Achilles tendon rupture diagnosed?
The diagnosis is usually made on the basis of symptoms, the history of the injury and a doctor's examination.
The
doctor may look at your walking and observe whether you can stand on
tiptoe. S/he may test the tendon using a method called 'Thompson's
test' (also known as the 'calf squeeze test'). In this test, you will
be asked to lie face down on the examination bench and to bend your
knee. The doctor will gently squeeze the calf muscles at the back of
your leg, and observe how the ankle moves. If the Achilles tendon is
OK, the calf squeeze will make the foot point briefly away from the leg
(a movement called 'plantar flexion'). This is quite an accurate test
for Achilles tendon rupture.
If the diagnosis is uncertain, an ultrasound or MRI scan may help.
Note:
an Achilles tendon rupture is sometimes difficult to diagnose and can
be 'missed' on first assessment. It is important for both doctors and
patients to be aware of this and to look carefully for an Achilles
tendon rupture if it is suspected.
What else could it be?
Similar symptoms can
be caused by Achilles tendonitis (inflammation of the Achilles tendon),
or a strain or tear of the calf muscles.
What is the treatment for a ruptured Achilles tendon?
This
condition should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible, because
prompt treatment probably improves recovery. You may need to be
referred urgently to see a doctor in an orthopaedic department or
accident and emergency department. Meanwhile, if a ruptured Achilles
tendon is suspected, you should not put any weight on that foot, so do
not walk on it at all.
What are the treatment options?
There are
two options for treatment. One option is an operation to surgically
repair the tendon. The surgeon sews together the torn ends of the
Achilles tendon, and perhaps may also use another tendon or a tendon
graft to help with the repair. A plaster cast or brace is needed after
the operation.
The other option is to allow time for the tendon
to heal naturally, resting it in a brace or plaster cast. This is
called 'conservative treatment’. If the tendon does not heal on its
own, a surgical repair can then be done later.
Both options will
involve having a plaster cast or brace (orthosis) for about 8 weeks, to
protect the tendon while it heals. The plaster or brace is positioned
so that the foot is pointing slightly downwards, which takes the strain
off the tendon.
Traditionally, patients were given crutches to
keep weight off the leg during the first few weeks of treatment. Now
there is a trend towards 'early mobilization'. This involves fitting a
plaster or brace which you can walk on. It is more convenient because
you do not need to use crutches.
Physiotherapy is often provided as well.
Which treatment is best?
There is debate as
to which treatment is best, surgery or conservative treatment. This
section summarizes the research into treatment of Achilles tendon
rupture.
Most of the research so far found that surgery has one
advantage: it reduces the risk that the Achilles tendon will rupture
again later (a problem known as 're-rupture'). The disadvantages of
surgery are the risk of complications such as wound infection (see
below), and the need for an an operation.
For this reason,
surgery may be recommended for younger people or those doing sports.
Conservative treatment may be suggested for older or less active
patients, and for people wishing to avoid surgery. But the choice of
treatment depends on individual preference and circumstances. Surgery
may also be recommended if there has been a delay in starting treatment.
However,
a new piece of research found that surgery and conservative treatment
actually gave equally good results, when patients were also given
'early mobilization' treatment using a brace.
If an operation is
needed, there is a type of surgery called ‘percutaneous’, which uses
smaller cuts than the traditional operation. This seems to reduce the
risk of getting a wound infection.
After surgery, a brace seems
to be better than a plaster cast in terms of faster recovery and return
to normal activities, a lower complication rate and patient preferences.
What is the outlook for a ruptured Achilles tendon?
Generally
the outlook is good. However, the tendon does take time to heal,
usually about six to eight weeks. More time will be needed after this
to allow the muscles to regain their normal strength after being in a
plaster or brace. On average, people need several weeks off work after
an Achilles tendon rupture, and the time taken to return to sport is
between 4 and 12 months.
Possible complications are:
- Whichever
treatment option is used, there is a chance that the Achilles tendon
will not heal fully, and further treatment such as surgery may be
needed.
- Complications of surgery: these are usually minor complications
such as a wound infection or reduced sensation near the operation site.
About 4 in 100 patients may get a wound infection.
- The tendon may scar or may become shorter during the healing process.
- There is also a chance that the tendon could re-rupture (get torn
again later). According to some research, the risk of a re-rupture is
about 4 in 100 with surgical treatment and about 12 in 100 with
conservative treatment.
Can Achilles tendon rupture be prevented?
Not always. However, some suggestions to help to prevent this injury are:
- For sports, start with warm-up exercises.
- Corticosteroid medication such as prednisolone, should be used
carefully and the dose should be reduced if possible. But note that
there are many conditions where corticosteroid medication is important
or lifesaving.
- Quinolone antibiotics should be used carefully in people over 60 or who are taking steroids.
References
-
Khan RJ, Fick D, Keogh A, et al; Treatment of acute achilles tendon ruptures. A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials.; J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2005 Oct;87(10):2202-10. [abstract]
-
Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics; Achilles Tendon Rupture
-
Mazzone MF, McCue T; Common conditions of the achilles tendon. Am Fam Physician. 2002 May 1;65(9):1805-10. [abstract]
-
Khan RJ, Fick D, Brammar TJ, et al; Interventions for treating acute Achilles tendon ruptures. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(3):CD003674. [abstract]
-
van der Linden PD, Sturkenboom MC, Herings RM, et al; Fluoroquinolones and risk of Achilles tendon disorders: case-control study. BMJ. 2002 Jun 1;324(7349):1306-7.
-
Twaddle BC, Poon P;
Early motion for Achilles tendon ruptures: is surgery important? A
randomized, prospective study. Am J Sports Med. 2007 Dec;35(12):2033-8.
Epub 2007 Sep 20. [abstract]
© EMIS and PiP 2008 Updated: 28 Jan 2008
