[Rupture of the Achilles tendon. Causes and late results after surgical management]

In a retrospective study 143 cases of surgically treated Achilles tendon ruptures were evaluated. The patients most commonly were male and between 31 and 40 years old. The majority of ruptures were sport injuries, mostly caused by indirect violence. The histological examination of the tendon very frequently revealed degenerative changes. 55 patients with unilateral Achilles tendon rupture were postoperatively evaluated by clinical examination and sonography. Because of the excellent functional and cosmetical results surgery remains the appropriate treatment of Achilles tendon rupture.