Presentation
Playing tennis and felt pop in calf.
Patient Data
Findings: Partial thickness-shear tear of the medial gastrocnemius/soleus aponeurosis with intermediate to high T1 fluid, reflecting blood products, separating the aponeurosis superiorly to the level of the central medial gastrocnemius muscle. Small areas of blooming artefact, reflecting hemosiderin are evident in the more inferior portion of the fluid. Feathery edema is evident in the gastrocnemius muscles. The plantaris tendon is intact.
Impression:
1.Tennis leg/ gastrocnemius and soleus aponeurosis partial thickness tear with blood products distending the aponeurosis
Case Discussion
Tennis leg is one cause of acute posterior leg/calf pain. The others included an Achilles tendon tear, gastrocnemius muscle tear, and plantaris tendon tear 1. The diagnosis could be made with either US or MRI, with MRI being able to better define the orientation of the aponeurotic tear and be more sensitive to any associated muscle tear.