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Achilles tendon rupture: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
ICD-10 code
S86.0. Injury of Achilles tendon.
Achilles tendon ruptures are more common in athletes, ballet dancers, and other people who perform jumping exercises.
What causes an Achilles tendon rupture?
The mechanism of injury is similar to damage to other tendons.
Symptoms of Achilles Tendon Rupture
Sharp pain, crunching and instability of the ankle joint following an injury.
Diagnosis of Achilles tendon rupture
The anamnesis indicates a corresponding injury.
Inspection and physical examination
The Achilles tendon area is swollen, and there may be bruises. With active dorsiflexion of the foot, the tension of the Achilles tendon is not determined, plantar flexion is sharply weakened. The patient cannot stand on the toes of the foot. Palpation reveals pain and lack of tendon tone.
[ Achilles tendon rupture treatment
Surgical treatment of Achilles tendon rupture
The only treatment for a ruptured Achilles tendon is surgery - joining the torn ends with one of the types of tendon sutures (Cuneo, Kazakov, etc.).
A circular plaster cast is applied from the middle third of the thigh to the tips of the fingers with the knee joint bent at an angle of 30°, and the ankle joint at 10°. The immobilization period is 6-8 weeks.
If the diagnosis of Achilles tendon ruptures is delayed, it is impossible to suture the tendon end to end due to muscle retraction - it is necessary to resort to plastic surgery. Various plastic surgeries are used.
The distinctive feature of the method is leaving the paratenon and immersing the tendon autograft into it. This preserves the vessels and nerves surrounding the tendon, as well as the sliding apparatus, ensures good regeneration and restores the anatomical and physiological principles of this zone.
After the operation, the limb is immobilized for 3 weeks with a circular plaster cast from the upper third of the thigh to the tips of the fingers in a position of flexion of the shin and foot to an angle of 150°. Then, for another 3 weeks, a plaster "boot" is applied, but flexion in the knee joint is reduced to 175°, in the ankle - to 90°.
After the immobilization is eliminated, exercise therapy, physiotherapy, and hydrotherapy are prescribed.