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Case Reports
. 2025 Jun 12:2025:5557419.
doi: 10.1155/cro/5557419. eCollection 2025.

Bilateral Open Achilles Tendon Complete Lacerations Following Interpersonal Violence: A Case Report

Collen Sandile Nkosi  1 , Bongiwe Hadebe  1 , Papa Kwabena Offeh Kyei  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Bilateral Open Achilles Tendon Complete Lacerations Following Interpersonal Violence: A Case Report

Collen Sandile Nkosi et al. Case Rep Orthop. .

Abstract

Introduction: Interpersonal violence victims account for a sizable proportion of trauma cases encountered in South African trauma centers. Open Achilles tendon injuries are more prevalent in male patients, accounting for a high number of all cases. Case Report: A 45-year-old male was brought in a trauma casualty by a paramedic after being referred by a local clinic in severe pain on both ankles, unable to walk or stand, and dressed bilaterally with blood stains. On examination, he demonstrated the triad of Achilles tendon injuries, including Matle's sign, Thompson's test, and a gap on palpation. A surgical operation was performed within 24 h of the patient's admission. Conclusion: This case report is aimed at increasing awareness of a rare case that presented with open bilateral Achilles tendon injuries associated with an alleged assault and received a successful surgical treatment without a skin complication.

Keywords: laceration; male; open Achilles; orthopedics; trauma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Radiographs of the bilateral ankle anteroposterior and lateral views with disrupted Kager's triangle on the lateral views and with no fractures.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Sutured wounds on the posterior region of the ankles after washout.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Intraoperative images of the bilateral Achilles tendon completely lacerated and sutured.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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