Kuwada classification of Achilles tendon tear

Last revised by Daniel J Bell ◉ on 10 Nov 2021

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Gaillard F, Bell D, Rasuli B, et al. Kuwada classification of Achilles tendon tear. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 28 May 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-6074

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-6074

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/6074?iframe=true

rID:

6074

Article created:

18 Apr 2009, Frank Gaillard ◉ ◈

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.

View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures

Last revised:

10 Nov 2021, Daniel J Bell ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.

View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures

Revisions:

20 times, by 10 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal

Sections:

Classifications

Synonyms:

Achilles tendon tear classification
Classification of Achilles tendon tears

The Kuwada classification of Achilles tendon tear was proposed in 1990 ⁴ and remains the most widely used system for describing Achilles tendon rupture.

Classification

Achilles tendon tears may be grouped (according to severity of the tear and degree of retraction) into four types:

type I: partial ruptures ≤50%
- typically treated with conservative management
type II: complete rupture with tendinous gap ≤3 cm
- typically treated with end-end anastomosis
type III: complete rupture with tendinous gap 3 to 6 cm
- often requires tendon/synthetic graft
type IV: complete rupture with a defect of >6 cm (neglected ruptures)
- often requires tendon/synthetic graft and gastrocnemius recession