Which test confirms an Achilles tendon rupture?

Which test confirms an Achilles tendon rupture?

• A. Thompson test (calf squeeze) indicating absence of plantar flexion
• B. Dorsiflexion test
• C. Lachman test
• D. Tinel sign

Answer: (A)

The test relies on the function of the gastrocnemius-soleus complex to plantarflex the foot. When you squeeze the calf, the normal tendon transmits that force to the heel and the foot plantarflexes. If the Achilles tendon is ruptured, there’s no continuous connection to the heel, so squeezing the calf does not produce plantarflexion. This absence of movement in response to a calf squeeze makes the Thompson (calf squeeze) test a reliable bedside way to confirm an Achilles tendon rupture. The other tests target different structures or conditions and don’t assess the Achilles tendon. The dorsiflexion test isn’t a standard confirmatory test for rupture, Lachman tests the knee’s ACL, and the Tinel sign is used to detect nerve irritation, not a tendon rupture.

The test relies on the function of the gastrocnemius-soleus complex to plantarflex the foot. When you squeeze the calf, the normal tendon transmits that force to the heel and the foot plantarflexes. If the Achilles tendon is ruptured, there’s no continuous connection to the heel, so squeezing the calf does not produce plantarflexion. This absence of movement in response to a calf squeeze makes the Thompson (calf squeeze) test a reliable bedside way to confirm an Achilles tendon rupture.

The other tests target different structures or conditions and don’t assess the Achilles tendon. The dorsiflexion test isn’t a standard confirmatory test for rupture, Lachman tests the knee’s ACL, and the Tinel sign is used to detect nerve irritation, not a tendon rupture.