Intraoperative Thompson Test - Assessing the Achilles’ tendon following a surgical repair for rupture. The calf squeeze or Thompson test provides an accurate means for detecting complete Achilles tendon rupture. 

To perform the test, the patient either lies prone with their feet hanging off the end of the examination table, or kneels on a chair. The clinician squeezes the gastrocnemius muscle belly while watching for plantar flexion. The absence of plantar flexion when squeezing the gastrocnemius muscle marks a positive test indicative of rupture.

The calf squeeze test is a more reliable indication of tendon rupture than the inability to plantar flex, since patients may be able to plantar flex the foot using accessory muscles (eg, tibialis posterior, peroneals). Achilles tendon ruptures can be missed at the initial visit because the clinician was falsely reassured by the patient's ability to plantar flex or walk.



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