Preview A patient limps into your office with ankle pain and a story about a popping sound he heard during a mad dash to the net on a tennis court. After evaluation, you diagnose complete rupture of the Achilles tendon. Do you apply a cast or refer him to an orthopedic surgeon? When are the higher risks and costs associated with surgical repair worth it? The authors take on these and other questions that have arisen in the ongoing debate over treatment of Achilles tendon rupture.