Emergency Cases Northwest Group

043 Squeezed For Time

Situation

Achilles rupture diagnosed at triage.

Background

A man presented with a sudden pop, pain and swelling to his Achilles area. Diagnosed clinically with the calf squeeze test as having Achilles tendon rupture. Although he was sent to minors with a full explanation he was in a rush and self discharged.

Assessment

The patient knelt on a chair and each calf was squeezed; the foot plantarflexed as normal in the good leg but there was no plantarflexion at all in the bad leg.

https://healthnews.com/health-conditions/musculoskeletal-disorders/what-is-the-achilles-tendon-rupture-test/

Recommendation

Use the calf squeeze test to diagnose Achilles tendon rupture.

Should really be done with the patient laying face down on a bed with the feet dangling off the bed.



PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE ANY PATIENT IDENTIFIABLE DATA OR GEO-LOCATION DATA IN THE SUBMISSION OR IN ANY ATTACHED IMAGES

Emergency Cases Northwest Group