Rupture medijalne glave gastroknemijusa – povezanost između kliničkog i ultrazvučnog nalaza

Aim: To estimate the diagnostic value of ultrasound examination in patients with medial gastrocnemius muscle (MGM) rupture because it is not possible to assess the size of the muscle rupture only by clinical parameters. The assessment and classification of MGM rupture are important for individual adjustment of therapeutic protocol. Methods: Sixty (60) patients with a typical history for a MGM rupture have undergone an ultrasound examination within one week from injury. Injuries were classified according to the modified Bourgeois ultrasound classification in 4 degrees: 1st degree: hypoechoic, enlarged distal muscle-tendon junction without the rupture of muscle structure, 2nd degree: rupture less than 2 cm, 3rd degree: rupture more than 2 cm, 4th degree: rupture with large anechoic collection of fluid between soleus and MGM. Results: There is no correlation between patient’s history and clinical parameters that include: mechanism of injury, physical activity, pain when the injury occurred, pain during clinical examination, difference in circumference of the lower extremity in proximal and distal third, range of motion in the ankle joint or localization of the rupture at the muscle tendon junction, and the degree of injury diagnosed by the ultrasound examination. Conclusion: Ultrasound is a useful diagnostic method which enables the assessment of MGM rupture and should be used for individual adjustment of the therapeutic protocol in these injuries.