PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Alajoulin, Omar A.
AU  - Alsbou, Mohammed S.
AU  - Ja’afreh, Somayya O.
AU  - Kalbouneh, Heba M.
TI  - Spontaneous Achilles tendon rupture in alkaptonuria
AID  - 10.15537/smj.2015.12.12834
DP  - 2015 Dec 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 1486--1489
VI  - 36
IP  - 12
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/36/12/1486.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/36/12/1486.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2015 Dec 01; 36
AB  - Alkaptonuria (AKU) is a rare inborn metabolic disease characterized by accumulation of homogentisic acid (HGA). Excretion of HGA in urine causes darkening of urine and its deposition in connective tissues causes dark pigmentation (ochronosis), early degeneration of articular cartilage, weakening of the tendons, and subsequent rupture. In this case report, we present a rare case of a patient presented with unilateral spontaneous rupture of Achilles tendon due to AKU. The patient developed most of the orthopedic manifestations of the disease earlier than typical presentations. Alkaptonuria patients should avoid strenuous exercises and foot straining especially in patients developing early orthopedic manifestations.