[Ultrasound of the Achilles tendon after percutaneous repair]

To evaluate clinical and ultrasound (US) results following percutaneous repair of the Achilles tendon.

Thirty-four patients underwent percutaneous Achilles tendon repair between 2004 and 2006. Seventeen patients (11 males and 6 females aged 30 to 59 years) underwent clinical and US follow-up at a mean of 15 months. US evaluation included assessment of the bilateral Achilles tendons with recording of maximum tendon diameter, echotexture, and presence of intratendonous neovascularization on power Doppler US.

On clinical evaluation, all patients were satisfied with the outcome and able to resume their normal level of activity. On US evaluation, there was no tendon discontinuity, and all tendons showed hypoechoic thickening with mean maximal diameter of 13 mm. Focal changes in echotexture were noted in 11 patients, hypoechoic in 5 cases and echogenic in 6 cases. A normal fibrillar echotexture was noted in 5 cases, at more than on eyear after surgery. Intratendonous neovascularization was present in 10 cases, mild in 6 cases, moderate in 2 cases and marked in 2 cases. The degree of neovascularization decreased with increasing postsurgical time.

Postsurgical Achilles tendons were characterized on US by hypoechoic thickening and loss of normal fibrillar echotexture. The presence of intratendonous neovascularization probably corresponds to postsurgical scarring that decreases over time.