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. 2021 Aug;29(8):2528-2534.
doi: 10.1007/s00167-021-06566-z. Epub 2021 May 15.

Increasing consensus on terminology of Achilles tendon-related disorders

K T M Opdam  1   2   3 , R Zwiers  4   5   6 , J I Wiegerinck  4   7 , C N van Dijk  4   5   6   8   9 ; Ankleplatform Study Collaborative –Science of Variation Group
Collaborators, Affiliations

Increasing consensus on terminology of Achilles tendon-related disorders

K T M Opdam et al. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2021 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: Aims of this study are to evaluate the current terminology and assess the influence of the latest proposals on the terminology used for Achilles tendon-related disorders in both daily practice and literature.

Methods: (1) All orthopedic surgeons experienced in the field of foot and ankle surgery of the Ankleplatform Study Group were invited to participate in this survey by email. They were requested to fill out a survey on terminology in six typical cases with Achilles tendon-related disorders. (2) A systematic literature search of Achilles tendon-related disorders was performed in eight foot and ankle journals in Medline, Embase (Classic) from 2000 to 2016. All extracted terms were counted and compared to the terminology proposals, based on anatomic location, symptoms, clinical findings and histopathology.

Results: (1) In total, 141 of the 283 (50%) orthopedic surgeons responded to the survey. In five out of six cases with Achilles tendon-related disorders, the majority gave an answer according to latest proposals. (2) An overview of terminology used for Achilles tendon-related disorders from 2000 to 2016 shows an increase in use of terminology according to the latest proposals based on anatomic location, symptoms, clinical findings and histopathology.

Conclusion: The revised terminology for Achilles tendon-related disorders based on anatomic location, symptoms, clinical findings and histopathology is used by the majority of orthopedic surgeons and is increasingly used in the literature. However, the indistinct Haglund eponyms are still frequently used in Achilles tendon-related terminology.

Level of evidence: Level IV.

Keywords: Achilles tendon; Insertional Achilles tendinopathy; Mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy; Retrocalcaneal bursitis; Terminology.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Overview of terminology used for Achilles tendon-related disorders in percentages of published articles (Y-axis) over the years (X-axis)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The distribution of terms used or mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy and Achilles paratendinopathy in percentages of published articles (Y-axis) over the years (X-axis)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The distribution of terms used for insertional Achilles tendinopathy and retrocalcaneal bursitis in percentages of published articles (Y-axis) over the years (X-axis)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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