A 42-year-old man playing badminton feels a sudden snap in his left calf while lunging. He can walk but cannot push off. There is a palpable gap 4 cm above the heel and he cannot rise onto tiptoe on that side. The single most useful bedside test to confirm the diagnosis is:

• A Anterior drawer test
• B Silfverskiold test
• C Ober's test
• D Calf squeeze test performed prone with the feet hanging over the edge of the couch ✓

Explanation

The Simmonds-Thompson test is diagnostic for acute Achilles tendon rupture: squeezing the calf in the prone position produces no plantar flexion of the foot when the tendon is torn. The palpable gap and inability to perform a single-leg heel raise support it. The Silfverskiold test assesses gastrocnemius tightness, not rupture.

Reference: Apley's System of Orthopaedics and Fractures, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.