Neglected Achilles tendon rupture associated with rheumatoid arthritis: a case report and a brief review of the literature

BMJ Case Rep. 2021 Jan 27;14(1):e239477. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2020-239477.

Abstract

We report a case about a 69-year-old man, suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, diagnosed with a neglected Achilles tendon rupture. Considering the large Achilles tendon gap and the bad quality of the autologous tendons caused by rheumatoid disease, a reconstruction using an Achilles tendon with calcaneus bone block allograft was performed, with excellent clinical and functional outcomes.

Keywords: orthopaedic and trauma surgery; orthopaedics; rheumatoid arthritis; tendon rupture.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Achilles Tendon / injuries*
  • Achilles Tendon / transplantation*
  • Aged
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / complications*
  • Bone Transplantation / methods*
  • Calcaneus / transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures
  • Rupture / complications
  • Rupture / surgery*
  • Transplantation, Homologous / methods