Ruptured Achilles tendon

Last evidence check May 2014.

Rupture of the Achilles tendon is a relatively common sports injury, often sustained during racquet sports such as badminton, tennis and squash. It is notoriously often missed, though if the possibility is considered in every "ankle" injury and appropriate clinical tests performed, most if not all ruptures would be diagnosed.

Opinion has fluctuated between surgical and non-surgical treatment historically. Modern practice has increasingly emphasised early functional rehabilitation, first after surgical repair and more recently as part of a non-surgical treatment programme. The most recent evidence (analysed by Soroceanu 2013) suggests that the results of surgery and non-surgical treatment are similar provided early functional rehabilitation is applied in all cases.

It appears that there is little if any difference between the overall outcomes of modern surgical and non-surgical treatment. Care can be individualised depending on patient preference.