Use of Imaging
We are unable to recommend for or against the routine use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (ultrasonography), and radiograph (roentgengrams, x-rays) to confirm the diagnosis of acute Achilles tendon rupture.
Rationale
A systematic review of the literature failed to identify adequate evidence to make a recommendation for or against the routine use of MRI, ultrasound, or radiographs to confirm the diagnosis of acute Achilles tendon rupture.
There were no studies that address MRI or radiographs as confirmatory tests and there were only two level V studies16, 17 that addressed ultrasound. These two studies contain unreliable data and cannot be combined to provide adequate evidence.
- (16) Maffulli N., The clinical diagnosis of subcutaneous tear of the Achilles tendon. A prospective study in 174 patients. Am J Sports Med 1998;26(2):266-270.
- (17) Margetic P, Miklic D, Rakic-Ersek V, Doko Z, Lubina ZI, Brkljacic B. Comparison of ultrasonographic and intraoperative findings in Achilles tendon rupture. Coll Antropol 2007;31(1):279-284.