Ultrasonography as a differential diagnostic aid in achillodynia.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the usefulness of soft-tissue real-time ultrasonography (US) for diagnosing sports injuries of the Achilles region. Thirty-eight patients (mean age, 39.9 years) with Achilles tendon problems were studied at Helsinki University Central Hospital. Six patients underwent surgery following ultrasonographic examination. All operative findings corresponded closely with those of ultrasonography. Partial ruptures were found in 11 cases, total tendon rupture in three cases, subachilles bursitis in 11 cases, and peritendinitis in 16 cases. The study showed that real-time ultrasonography can be used reliably for examination of both tendoneal and peritendoneal injuries. The technique is recommended as a routine examination before instigating any specific treatment and for monitoring Achilles tendon injuries.