Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41948450›Full record

ArticleOrthopaedic journal of sports medicine2026

MRI-Based Classification of Achilles Tendon Ruptures: Reliability and Predictors of Tear Location.

Maximilian M Mueller, Andrea Estfeller, Christopher C Cychosz, Robert E Bilodeau, Brittany M Ammerman, Prerana Katiyar, Craig E Klinger, William M Ricci, Gregory S DiFelice, Steve B Behrens

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Maximilian M MuellerDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6456-9518
Andrea EstfellerDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5380-3996
Christopher C CychoszSlocum Center for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Eugene, Oregon, USA.
Robert E BilodeauDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6650-3166
Brittany M AmmermanDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA.
Prerana KatiyarDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA.
Craig E KlingerDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0154-8276
William M RicciDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA.
Gregory S DiFeliceDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9559-757X
Steve B BehrensDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6261-6930

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The absence of a comprehensive classification system for Achilles tendon (AT) injuries contributes to the lack of consensus regarding optimal treatment strategies, as it hinders accurate differentiation of injury types. Purpose: To evaluate epidemiology of AT ruptures to develop a magnetic resonance imaging-based classification system for rupture location. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A search was conducted for all patients with acute AT injuries between 2016 and 2023. Tear locations were classified as follows: type 1 (musculotendinous junction; MTJ), type 1A (2-cm zone distal to MTJ), type 2 (midsubstance), type 3 (2-cm zone proximal to insertion), type 3A (soft tissue "peel-off"), type 3B (calcaneal bony avulsion). Clinicodemographic data were collected, and rupture gap size, tendon thickness, tibiotalar, and plantarflexion angle were measured. Results: A total of 428 patients were included (age 45 ± 15 years; 17% female). Mean rupture gap size was 30 ± 16 mm in 73°± 8° tibiotalar flexion. AT tear distribution: type 1, 62.7%; type 1A, 16.3%; type 2, 13.8%; type 3, 0.7%; type 3A, 5.8%; and type 3B, 0.7%. Female patients demonstrated lower tendon thickness ( Conclusion: This study introduces an AT tear classification system that demonstrated substantial to almost perfect reliability. AT ruptures at the MTJ were most common (63%). Presence of tendinopathy, age, gap size, and tendon thickness were significant predictors for AT tear type. Female patients exhibited lower tendon thickness and a significantly higher prevalence of distal tear location. Studies with larger cohort sizes are necessary to confirm the current findings.

Indexed as

Achilles tendonankleMRIrupturetear

Identifiers

PMID41948450
PMCPMC13051076

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.