Not Just Chronic Heel Pain: Point-of-Care Ultrasound Diagnosis of Achilles Tendon Avulsion in a Pain Clinic – A Case Report

This record contains the author manuscript of a clinical case report titled Not Just Chronic Heel Pain: Point-of-Care Ultrasound Diagnosis of Achilles Tendon Avulsion in a Pain Clinic – A Case Report. The report describes a 60-year-old woman who presented to a pain clinic with persistent posterior heel pain, weakness, and limp 4 months after ankle trauma. Focused point-of-care musculoskeletal ultrasound demonstrated complete Achilles tendon discontinuity with an attached echogenic avulsed bony fragment and absence of normal tendon attachment at the calcaneal footprint, prompting same-day orthopedic referral. The case highlights the diagnostic value of point-of-care ultrasound in pain practice, particularly in patients with persistent post-traumatic heel pain in whom structural tendon injury may otherwise be overlooked. This manuscript is shared for academic and educational purposes. Patient details have been de-identified, and written informed consent for publication was obtained.