{ "schema_version": 1, "kind": "condition", "id": "gastrocnemius-tear", "name": "Gastrocnemius (calf) muscle tear", "category": "chronic", "sources": "Gastrocnemius Strain - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf (NBK534766) - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534766/ · ICPC-3 (WONCA International Classification of Primary Care, 3rd edition) class LD49.01 - condition scope only, no dose · MSF Essential Drugs 2024 - paracetamol (oral) · MSF Essential Drugs 2024 (ibuprofen oral monograph)", "review_status": "reviewed", "verified_against": "Gastrocnemius (calf) muscle tear - disease-level clinical article (gastrocnemius-tear-clinical.txt) · MSF Essential Drugs 2024 - paracetamol (oral) · MSF Essential Drugs 2024 (ibuprofen oral monograph)", "verified_date": "2026-08", "treatments": [ { "id": 807, "generic": "Paracetamol", "line": 1, "is_adjunct": false, "form": "oral.solid", "strength_mg": 500.0, "adult_dose": "1 g (two 500 mg tablets) 3 or 4 times daily, to a maximum of 4 g in 24 hours.", "adult_duration": "Until the patient can walk without limping.", "dose_source": "MSF Essential Drugs 2024 - paracetamol (oral)", "rationale": "Paracetamol is the acetaminophen the article names - the two words are the same medicine. The article's initial treatment is rest until the patient can walk without limping, a walking boot if the pain is severe, heel lifts, ice for 20 minutes four times daily, and an NSAID or acetaminophen to help with the pain. It names the two drug classes and no amount, so the amounts are MSF's.", "cautions": [ "A calf that is tense and hurts out of all proportion to the examination is compartment syndrome and needs emergency surgical assessment; an analgesic that quietens it changes nothing.", "Never exceed 4 g in 24 hours in an adult, or 60 mg/kg in 24 hours in a child. MSF warns that paracetamol poisoning is severe - it causes hepatic cytolysis - and that the stated limits matter most in children and in older patients.", "MSF records no contra-indication in pregnancy or in breast-feeding, and names paracetamol as the analgesic of choice for a patient allergic to aspirin, one with a history of gastric trouble, a pregnant or breast-feeding woman, and children.", "Paracetamol has no anti-inflammatory action, so it eases the pain and does nothing for the swelling." ], "peds_mgkg_low": 15.0, "peds_mgkg_high": 15.0, "peds_max_mg": 500.0, "peds_basis": "dose", "peds_unit": "mg", "peds_note": "Child 1 month and over: 15 mg/kg 3 or 4 times daily, to a maximum of 60 mg/kg in 24 hours. Child under 1 month: 10 mg/kg 3 or 4 times daily, to a maximum of 40 mg/kg in 24 hours. A single dose is capped at 500 mg because the top band of MSF's own weight table, 30 to under 50 kg, is one 500 mg tablet three times daily.", "peds_min_weight_kg": null, "peds_max_weight_kg": null, "peds_age_min_months": null, "peds_age_max_months": null, "peds_age_bands": null, "peds_doses": [ { "weight_kg": 10, "low_mg": 150, "high_mg": 150, "capped": false }, { "weight_kg": 20, "low_mg": 300, "high_mg": 300, "capped": false }, { "weight_kg": 30, "low_mg": 450, "high_mg": 450, "capped": false }, { "weight_kg": 40, "low_mg": 500, "high_mg": 500, "capped": true } ], "brands": [ { "trade_name": "FEBRIMOL 500 MG 20 TAB.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "PHARCO", "price_egp": 3.5, "pack_count": 20, "unit_price": 0.17, "strength_mg": 500.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "CETAMOL 500 MG 20 TABS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "MEMPHIS", "price_egp": 8.0, "pack_count": 20, "unit_price": 0.4, "strength_mg": 500.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "PARACETAMOL-MUP 500MG B.P. 20 TABS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "MUP", "price_egp": 13.0, "pack_count": 20, "unit_price": 0.65, "strength_mg": 500.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "CETAL 500 MG 20 TABS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "EIPICO", "price_egp": 24.0, "pack_count": 20, "unit_price": 1.2, "strength_mg": 500.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "ARKADOLOW 500 MG 30 F.C. TABS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "UTOPIA", "price_egp": 42.0, "pack_count": 30, "unit_price": 1.4, "strength_mg": 500.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "PARAMOL 500MG 20 TAB.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "MISR", "price_egp": 38.0, "pack_count": 20, "unit_price": 1.9, "strength_mg": 500.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "ADOL 500MG 24 CAPLETS", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "JULPHAR", "price_egp": 32.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 500.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "AUGICETAMIDE 500 MG 20 SACHETS", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "AUG PHARMA", "price_egp": 50.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 500.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "FEBRIMOL ORAL DROPS 20 ML", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "PHARCO", "price_egp": 4.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": null, "exact_strength": false, "exact_form": false, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "THERA-LO 3.2G/100ML ORAL SUSP. 100 ML", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "PHAROPHARMA", "price_egp": 5.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 3200.0, "exact_strength": false, "exact_form": false, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null } ], "condition_id": "gastrocnemius-tear" }, { "id": 808, "generic": "Ibuprofen", "line": 1, "is_adjunct": false, "form": "oral.solid", "strength_mg": 400.0, "adult_dose": "200 to 400 mg 3 to 4 times daily as required, to a maximum of 1,200 mg in 24 hours. Take it with food and keep doses at least 4 hours apart.", "adult_duration": "A short course over the first days, with the ice and the rest.", "dose_source": "MSF Essential Drugs 2024 (ibuprofen oral monograph)", "rationale": "Ibuprofen is the NSAID the article offers as the alternative to acetaminophen. The article's initial treatment is rest until the patient can walk without limping, a walking boot if the pain is severe, heel lifts, ice for 20 minutes four times daily, and an NSAID or acetaminophen to help with the pain. It names the two drug classes and no amount, so the amounts are MSF's.", "cautions": [ "Generalised calf swelling and worsening pain without a clear mechanical injury raises deep vein thrombosis, which the article carries both as a complication and as a differential. An NSAID does not make a swollen calf safe.", "A positive calf squeeze test or an inability to plantarflex points to an Achilles rupture and needs urgent orthopaedic referral.", "Not for a child under 3 months. MSF also contra-indicates ibuprofen in allergy to any NSAID, peptic ulcer, coagulation defects, haemorrhage, surgery carrying a risk of major blood loss, severe renal or hepatic impairment, severe heart failure, severe malnutrition, uncorrected dehydration or hypovolaemia, and severe infection.", "Avoid in pregnancy. MSF contra-indicates it outright from the beginning of the sixth month and names paracetamol as the substitute. Short-term use while breast-feeding carries no contra-indication.", "Give with caution to an older or an asthmatic patient. Do not combine it with methotrexate, with an anticoagulant, or with another NSAID, and watch the combination with a diuretic or an ACE inhibitor - MSF's instruction there is to drink plenty of fluids to avoid renal failure.", "It may cause allergic reactions, epigastric pain, peptic ulcer, haemorrhage and renal impairment." ], "peds_mgkg_low": 5.0, "peds_mgkg_high": 10.0, "peds_max_mg": 400.0, "peds_basis": "dose", "peds_unit": "mg", "peds_note": "Child over 3 months: 5 to 10 mg/kg 3 to 4 times daily, to a maximum of 30 mg/kg in 24 hours. Nothing under 3 months of age. A single dose is capped at 400 mg, which is the adult single-dose maximum in the same MSF entry.", "peds_min_weight_kg": null, "peds_max_weight_kg": null, "peds_age_min_months": null, "peds_age_max_months": null, "peds_age_bands": null, "peds_doses": [ { "weight_kg": 10, "low_mg": 50, "high_mg": 100, "capped": false }, { "weight_kg": 20, "low_mg": 100, "high_mg": 200, "capped": false }, { "weight_kg": 30, "low_mg": 150, "high_mg": 300, "capped": false }, { "weight_kg": 40, "low_mg": 200, "high_mg": 400, "capped": false } ], "brands": [ { "trade_name": "DAJUANOFEN 400 MG 20 F.C. TABS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "COPAD PHARMA", "price_egp": 5.0, "pack_count": 20, "unit_price": 0.25, "strength_mg": 400.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "FLABU 400MG 10 F.C.TAB.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "DELTA PHARMA", "price_egp": 3.75, "pack_count": 10, "unit_price": 0.38, "strength_mg": 400.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "NOVA-PROFEN 400MG 30 F.C. TABLETS", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "SANOFI", "price_egp": 12.75, "pack_count": 30, "unit_price": 0.42, "strength_mg": 400.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "IBUPROFEN 400 MG 10 TAB.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "SEDICO", "price_egp": 6.0, "pack_count": 10, "unit_price": 0.6, "strength_mg": 400.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "MAFO 400 MG 30 F.C.TABS", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "EIPICO", "price_egp": 42.0, "pack_count": 30, "unit_price": 1.4, "strength_mg": 400.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "BRUFEN 400 MG 30 TABS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "KAHIRA > ABBOTT LABORATORIES", "price_egp": 78.0, "pack_count": 30, "unit_price": 2.6, "strength_mg": 400.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "PROFUSOL 400MG 20 S.G CAPS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "EUROPEAN EGYPTIAN PHARM. IND.", "price_egp": 31.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 400.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "ANALGIPROF 400 MG 25 SACHETS", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "EVA PHARMA", "price_egp": 37.5, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 400.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "NOVA-PROFEN 100MG/5ML ORAL SUSP. 100ML", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "SANOFI", "price_egp": 2.25, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 100.0, "exact_strength": false, "exact_form": false, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "BRUFEMOL-N SUSP. 60 ML", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "ARAB DRUG COMPANY (ADCO)", "price_egp": 4.5, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": null, "exact_strength": false, "exact_form": false, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null } ], "condition_id": "gastrocnemius-tear" }, { "id": 809, "generic": "Referral & safety-netting (no drug therapy)", "line": 1, "is_adjunct": false, "form": null, "strength_mg": null, "adult_dose": "Sudden calf muscle tear during push-off (\"tennis leg\") or a related Achilles tendon injury; mild strains are managed conservatively with analgesia and rest, but a suspected Achilles rupture needs urgent orthopedic referral.", "adult_duration": "Refer, with advice", "dose_source": "No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care", "rationale": "Sudden calf muscle tear during push-off (\"tennis leg\") or a related Achilles tendon injury; mild strains are managed conservatively with analgesia and rest, but a suspected Achilles rupture needs urgent orthopedic referral.", "cautions": [ "Positive calf squeeze test / suspected Achilles rupture, inability to plantarflex the foot, calf swelling raising concern for DVT.", "The drug rows above are what the treating service gives. They are here so that the referral is an informed one and so the GP can recognise the regimen the patient comes back on - not as permission to start it without the referral.", "RED FLAG - Acute Compartment Syndrome (tense muscle compartment, pain out of proportion to physical exam) is an urgent red flag requiring emergent surgical consultation.", "Deep Vein Thrombosis is a red flag, either as a complication or as a differential diagnosis (generalized calf swelling and worsening pain without focal mechanical injury)." ], "peds_mgkg_low": null, "peds_mgkg_high": null, "peds_max_mg": null, "peds_basis": null, "peds_unit": null, "peds_note": "A child is dosed from the drug rows above, by weight. The referral threshold and the safety-netting are the same at any age.", "peds_min_weight_kg": null, "peds_max_weight_kg": null, "peds_age_min_months": null, "peds_age_max_months": null, "peds_age_bands": null, "peds_doses": null, "brands": [], "condition_id": "gastrocnemius-tear" } ] }