[A diagnostic pitfall in sports pathology: false phlebitis and ruptures of varicose veins in the calf]

Many of the injuries suffered by today's athletes are sited in the Triceps Surae. The most common of these are the rupture of the Achilles Tendon and the disinsertion of the inferior Gemellus muscle. The clinical diagnosis is straightforward, based as it is on the sudden appearance of certain conditions: pain, disablement, haematoma, and sometimes laceration. In many cases, however, the diagnosis is not made because of the change in these conditions and the patients return to sport. Our study is based on 50 accidents, resulting in musculo-tendinous lesions, of which 14 cases were initially classed as "phlebitis", varicose ruptures, or sprains.