title: Terminology for Achilles tendon related disorders.
abstract: The terminology of Achilles tendon pathology has become inconsistent and confusing throughout the years. For proper research, assessment and treatment, a uniform and clear terminology is necessary. A new terminology is proposed; the definitions hereof encompass the anatomic location, symptoms, clinical findings and histopathology. It comprises the following definitions: Mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy: a clinical syndrome characterized by a combination of pain, swelling and impaired performance. It includes, but is not limited to, the histopathological diagnosis of tendinosis. Achilles paratendinopathy: an acute or chronic inflammation and/or degeneration of the thin membrane around the Achilles tendon. There are clear distinctions between acute paratendinopathy and chronic paratendinopathy, both in symptoms as in histopathology. Insertional Achilles tendinopathy: located at the insertion of the Achilles tendon onto the calcaneus, bone spurs and calcifications in the tendon proper at the insertion site may exist. Retrocalcaneal bursitis: an inflammation of the bursa in the recess between the anterior inferior side of the Achilles tendon and the posterosuperior aspect of the calcaneus (retrocalcaneal recess). Superficial calcaneal bursitis: inflammation of the bursa located between a calcaneal prominence or the Achilles tendon and the skin. Finally, it is suggested that previous terms as Haglund's disease; Haglund's syndrome; Haglund's deformity; pump bump (calcaneus altus; high prow heels; knobbly heels; cucumber heel), are no longer used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, G4-262, PO Box 22700, 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. c.n.vandijk@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: van Sterkenburg
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Wiegerinck
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maffulli
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon; D006801:Humans; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000473:pathology*; D009626:Terminology as Topic