Bilateral Achilles tendon injury in a 14-year-old adolescent: case report

Achilles tendon (AT) wounds are defined as partial or complete disruptions of the tendon that create direct communication with the external environment [2] Lamah L Diallo M Tekpa JBD. The incidence of bilateral AT lacerations in children remains unknown. We report a case of simultaneous bilateral AT laceration in a 14-year-old adolescent following a domestic accident.

A 14-year-old male adolescent with no prior medical history was admitted to the emergency department for open ankle trauma following a domestic accident. While walking backward, his heels struck a sheet of metal lying on the ground. He presented with complete functional impairment, linear wounds with a depression over both ATs. Clinical examination revealed a positive bilateral Thompson test. The diagnosis of a total, bilateral AT laceration was confirmed. Surgical debridement and tendon repair were performed, followed by immobilization of the ankles in equinus position for 3 weeks, then at 90° for another 3 weeks. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, with normal walking and return to activities by 8 months after surgery.

While various series of AT wounds have been described in the literature, no cases of simultaneous bilateral AT wounds have been previously reported. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a simultaneous, complete bilateral AT laceration in a child.

This case report describes a complete transection of the AT resulting from a domestic accident. The case underscores the potential hazards associated with household injuries.