Subcutaneous rupture of the Achilles tendon and ipsilateral fracture of the medial malleolus

Trimalleolar Fracture Associated with Subcutaneous Rupture of the Achilles Tendon and Traumatic Peroneal Dislocation: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

CASE

We report the case of a 44-year-old man who sustained an Achilles tendon rupture with an associated trimalleolar fracture and traumatic peroneal dislocation of the left ankle after a snowboarding injury. These injuries have been surgically repaired; the patient has returned to all his activities 18 months after surgery.

CONCLUSION

The possibility of such injuries occurring in combination should be considered. A thorough history, physical examination, and plain radiographs should be performed in higher energy trauma to the ankle. Additional diagnostic tests such as ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging may be used to supplement treatment.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE

Level 5.

High-Energy Achilles Tendon Rupture With Associated Medial Malleolus Fracture and Traumatic Peroneal Dislocation: A Case Report

Fracture, Achilles tendon rupture, or traumatic dislocation of the peroneal tendons are often seen in isolation after a trauma or sports-related injury. However, in rare circumstances, a combination of these injuries can occur simultaneously. Multiple previous case reports describe a combination of 2 of these injuries. Missed or delayed diagnosis is common in these combination injuries and can lead to significant patient morbidity and result in long-term consequences. We report a case of a 35-year-old man who sustained an Achilles tendon rupture with an associated medial malleolus fracture and traumatic peroneal dislocation after a snowboarding injury. These injuries were treated surgically, and at 9 months postoperatively, the patient had returned to all activities. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for concomitant injuries with higher-energy trauma to the ankle and should perform a thorough history, physical examination, and plain radiographs at a minimum.Levels of Evidence: LEVEL 5.

Gustilo IIIA Open Bimalleolar Fracture Dislocation of Ankle with Ipsilateral Achilles Tendon Rupture: A Case Report and Review of Literature

CASE

Although rare, a medial malleolus fracture plus ipsilateral Achilles tendon rupture has been described in previous case reports. We present a unique case of an open bimalleolar fracture dislocation with ipsilateral Achilles tendon rupture after a motorcycle crash. His Achilles injury was diagnosed intraoperatively during external fixator placement. He presented in a delayed fashion to our institution, where he underwent open reduction internal fixation and Achilles tendon reconstruction.

CONCLUSION

Although most commonly described with isolated medial malleolus fractures, Achilles tendon injuries can also be associated with bimalleolar ankle fractures. These associated injuries are frequently missed.

Lateral Malleolar Fracture with Concurrent Achilles Tendon Rupture: A Case Report and Literature Review

Achilles tendon and malleolar fractures are commonly seen in isolation, but only a few cases of combined injuries have been reported. In this case, we present a 53-year-old male who sustained an isolated lateral malleolus fracture with an Achilles tendon rupture. Emergency Medicine physicians should consider the possibility of these injuries in combination.

Trimalleolar fracture and associated Achilles tendon rupture: Ten year follow up of an unusual water-skiing injury

A 49 year old professional fitness instructor sustained a high velocity rotational injury to his right ankle while waterski-ing. The ski bindings did not release, exacerbating the injury. This resulted in a trimalleolar fracture and a rupture of his Achilles tendon.

A trimalleolar fracture in association with a rupture of the Achilles tendon has not been previously reported.

This combination of injuries posed a dilemma in treatment options and postoperative management.

The authors felt that ensuring that the Achilles tendon healed with no shortening was the priority for future function in this professional athlete.

It was decided to treat the Achilles tendon rupture by open repair and to place the ankle in equinus postoperatively.

It was also decided to openly reduce and internally fix the medial and lateral malleolar fractures before immobilising the ankle in equinus.

Any residual stiffness in the ankle, subtalar and midtarsal joints would be treated with aggressive physiotherapy.

It was felt that the rotational forces may have resulted in a degree of degloving around the ankle. Care was therefore taken in the choice and placement of the surgical incisions.

In spite of this, the lateral surgical wound broke down postoperatively, needing treatment with a fasciocutaneous flap.

When reviewed at ten years following the injury, the patient was continuing to work as a fitness instructor with a view to continuing to retirement in five years at the age of 65.

There was a slight decrease in dorsiflexion of the right ankle but flexion was full and movement of the subtalar and midtarsal joints were also full.

There remained 1 cm of wasting of the right calf.

Radiology of the ankle showed no joint space narrowing or evidence of degenerative change at ten years following the injury.

Ankle Fracture Associated With Rupture of the Achilles Tendon: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Solitary ankle fracture or Achilles Tendon (AT) rupture might not be an uncommon injury. However, concomitant ipsilateral ankle fracture with AT rupture is rare. The present report discusses this rare combination. A 30-year-old female had fallen while rock climbing and sustained a closed fracture of the medial malleolus with an ipsilateral complete AT rupture. Most of the reported cases had similar patterns, not only in terms of history, but also in terms of a similar fracture pattern. This rare combination of orthopedic injuries tends to occur when an abrupt excessive force is applied to the forefoot, with subsequent ankle hyperextension or hindfoot inversion. Imaging studies are useful both for confirming the injuries and for medicolegal and research purposes. Definitive treatment of the AT rupture is usually surgical in young active patients. Concomitant malleolar fractures can be managed conservatively or surgically, depending on the fracture configuration and degree of displacement. The importance of a thorough clinical examination in assessing the musculoskeletal and neurovascular structures in ankle injuries cannot be overemphasized. Knowledge of these injury patterns is crucial to reducing the incidence of residual morbidity such as ankle and foot weakness and loss of motion.

Ipsilateral Rupture of Quadriceps Tendon with Distal Tibia Fracture: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Traumatic rupture of the quadriceps tendon by itself is not an uncommon clinical condition. However, its association with concurrent ipsilateral closed distal tibia oblique fracture is exceedingly rare with only one previously reported case in English literature. The dual diagnosis of this atypical combination of injury may be masked by pain and immobilization of the more obvious fracture and may be missed, unless the treating physician maintains a high index of suspicion. Suprapatellar knee pain with or without a palpable gap in the quadriceps tendon and inability to straight leg raise in the setting of a distal tibia fracture should raise concern, but if initial treatment employs a long-leg splint the knee symptoms may be muted. In this report, we describe this unusual combination of injury in a 67-year-old male patient who sustained a trivial twisting injury to the leg. The aim of this report is to raise awareness and emphasize the importance of thorough and repeated clinical examinations in the presence of distracting injuries. Despite the complexity of the problem, standard techniques for quadriceps tendon repair using transpatellar bone tunnels following locked intramedullary rodding of the tibia fracture may lead to optimal outcomes.

Missed Medial Malleolar Fracture Associated With Achilles Tendon Rupture: A Case Report and Literature Review

A 45-year-old man sustained an Achilles tendon rupture while playing futsal. A concomitant medial malleolar fracture was not diagnosed until the patient underwent an operation for Achilles tendon repair. A routine postoperative radiograph showed a minimally displaced medial malleolar fracture. Conservative treatment was chosen for the fracture. The function of the Achilles tendon recovered well, and the fracture was united. A medial malleolar fracture can be missed when an Achilles tendon rupture occurs simultaneously. Thus, surgeons should consider the possibility of medial malleolar fracture associated with an Achilles tendon rupture.

Achilles tendon rupture with open distal tibia and fibula fracture

The authors present a previously unreported case of an open fracture of the distal tibia and fibula with associated Achilles tendon rupture in a 27-year-old motorcyclist. Management followed established trauma principles of wound exploration, debridement, and stabilization of the fracture with reamed locked intramedullary nailing of the tibia. The injury to the Achilles tendon was not identified until surgical exploration for fixation of the fracture. This required a 2-stage operative approach, involving initial debridement and fracture fixation followed by Achilles tendon repair during the second-look wound review procedure. The authors believe this to be the first reported case of Achilles tendon rupture in association with an open transverse distal tibia fracture. Prior to surgical exploration of the wound, Achilles tendon rupture was not suspected, emphasizing the need for clinical suspicion, thorough examination, and adequate wound exploration at operation for fracture fixation.

Acute calcaneus tendon rupture associated with ipsilateral malleolar fracture: case report and literature review

Malleolar fractures are rarely associated with lesions of the adjacent tendons or neurovascular structures. The association of ankle fractures with Achilles tendon rupture is even more infrequent, although both of these injuries are very common in and of themselves. To our knowledge, fracture of the lateral malleolus in association with an acute rupture of the ipsilateral calcaneus tendon has not been previously described. In this article, we describe a female patient who sustained an acute rupture of the Achilles tendon in conjunction with fracture of the ipsilateral lateral malleolus.