Ankle Case 8 ED Management

Prognosis is generally good with prompt recognition and treatment. Patients should be placed in a short leg posterior mold splint with the ankle slightly plantar flexed. This relieves tension from the tendon. Patients are made non-weightbearing. Advise rest, elevation, and analgesics as needed. Refer patients to an orthopedic surgeon or sports medicine specialist within one week for consideration of surgical repair versus non-operative management. Non-surgical management is generally best for older, less active patients while surgical management is generally offered to younger, more active patients, particularly athletes. Rates of recurrent rupture, however, appear to be about the same.

Asymmetric foot declination, lack of right resting plantar flexion. There is visible loss of normal contour and tone of the affected Achilles tendon compared to the unaffected side.