Question

The patient is lying prone. The examiner squeezes the calf muscles. The absence of plantarflexion on squeezing calf muscles indicate:

• A. Lateral tibial torsion
• B. Ruptured achilles tendon
• C. Peroneal tendon dislocation
• D. Anterior talofibular ligament strain
• E.

Hint:

A ruptured Achilles tendon can severely limit foot movements such as plantarflexion and should be diagnosed promptly.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding plantarflexion and its importance.
Plantarflexion is the movement of the foot downwards, and the Achilles tendon plays a crucial role in this movement. A ruptured Achilles tendon would prevent this motion.
Step 2: Analyzing each option.
- (1) Lateral tibial torsion: Incorrect. Lateral tibial torsion affects the alignment of the leg but would not cause an absence of plantarflexion specifically.
- (2) Ruptured achilles tendon: Correct. The absence of plantarflexion on squeezing the calf muscles is a classic sign of a ruptured Achilles tendon, as the tendon is no longer intact to facilitate this movement.
- (3) Peroneal tendon dislocation: Incorrect. While peroneal tendon dislocations can cause foot instability, they typically would not prevent plantarflexion.
- (4) Anterior talofibular ligament strain: Incorrect. A strain in this ligament would affect ankle stability but not specifically the plantarflexion movement.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (2), as a ruptured Achilles tendon leads to an inability to perform plantarflexion.