Serial Ultrasound Imaging Leading up to an Achilles Tendon Rupture After Identification of a Thickened Paratenon: A...

A 22-yr-old lacrosse student-athlete had participated in a research study examining the Achilles tendons of asymptomatic athletes, with normal appearance of his Achilles tendons bilaterally 7 mos before injury. Around 4 wks before injury, the patient started to report achy pain in the affected Achilles tendon, exacerbated by ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion, in the context of using new cleats during conditioning. He underwent repeat ultrasound assessment, identifying a normal appearing Achilles tendon, though with new hypoechogenic paratenon thickening approximately 1-4 cm proximal to the calcaneus. He ultimately suffered a noncontact complete Achilles tendon rupture. This case is the second known example of an Achilles tendon rupture with previous asymptomatic advanced imaging and additionally calls into question the role of the Achilles paratenon in Achilles tendon pathology and rupture.