Achilles tendon rupture: diagnosis & treatment

Tendinopathy and rupture are the two most common pathologies involving the Achilles tendon.

Patients with tendinopathy typically describe a gradual onset of pain, while ruptures are associated with an acute event.

Objectives of this course:

• Understand the typical history associated with Achilles tendon ruptures.
• Be able to conduct the clinical examination needed to diagnose an Achilles tendon rupture.
• Have an awareness of the limitations of the radiological studies that can be used to assist diagnosing this injury and be able to order these appropriately (where needed).
• Have an understanding of the different treatment options and be able to council a patient appropriately about them.
• Be able to manage an Achilles tendon rupture non-surgically.
• Understand the indications for referral for an orthopaedic assessment.

Acknowledgements

This content was created by Dr Helen Joyce Fulcher MBChB, DipPaed, PGCertHSc(Sports Med) in 2022.

This course has been endorsed by The Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand (PSNZ) and by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) for CME credits for their General Practice Educational Programme (GPEP) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) purposes, and the College of Nurses Aotearoa (NZ) for PD hours.