Use of point-of-care ultrasound in a low-resource setting to diagnose Achilles tendon rupture and avulsion fracture of the calcaneal bone

Abstract

BackgroundPoint-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is becoming more prevalent in recent years for evaluating patients presenting with musculoskeletal injuries in the emergency department (ED). This imaging modality has been utilized to diagnose soft tissue and bony injuries accurately, obtain appropriate consultation, and perform timely interventional procedures in the ED.Case presentationWe present the case of a 55-year-old man who presented to the ED with significant left ankle pain following a ground-level fall. His physical examination showed swelling and tenderness around the ankle. POCUS examination aided the rapid and accurate detection of acute Achilles tendon rupture.ConclusionThis case demonstrates that POCUS is a valuable diagnostic tool in evaluating patients with a suspected Achilles tendon rupture, especially in a resource-limited setting.