Achilles tendon rupture in athletes

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Musculoskeletal Research

Background:

• Achilles tendon ruptures frequently impact middle-aged athletes, causing significant functional deficits.
• Sports involving rapid acceleration and deceleration pose the highest risk for this injury.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence on the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of Achilles tendon ruptures.
• To compare surgical techniques and rehabilitation protocols for optimal patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on Achilles tendon rupture management.
• Analysis of diagnostic accuracy comparing MRI and ultrasound.
• Evaluation of operative versus non-operative treatment, open versus percutaneous fixation, and augmentation techniques.

Main Results:

• Diagnosis is typically clinical, with MRI preferred over ultrasound if uncertain.
• Operative treatment shows lower rerupture rates but higher complications with open techniques.
• Percutaneous fixation offers lower complication rates without increased rerupture risk.
• Augmentation provides no additional clinical benefit; early mobilization improves outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Percutaneous fixation and early mobilization are recommended for Achilles tendon rupture repair.
• Surgical technique choice impacts complication rates and return to sport.
• Further research into optimal rehabilitation strategies is warranted.