Comparative functional analysis of two different achilles tendon surgical repairs

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Achilles tendon injuries necessitate surgical intervention, with open and mini-invasive techniques being common.
• Evaluating functional outcomes is crucial for determining the efficacy of these surgical approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the functional outcomes of open versus mini-invasive surgical techniques for Achilles tendon rupture.
• To assess limb coordination and performance using a clinical and instrumented protocol.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-one subjects (34 patients, 17 healthy controls) were evaluated.
• Functional assessment included standing vertical jumps (countermovement and squat jumps) with accelerometers measuring limb coordination.
• Comparison between open surgery, mini-invasive surgery, and a healthy control group.

Main Results:

• Surgically treated patients demonstrated functional performance comparable to controls.
• A tendency to favor the operated limb was observed in both surgical groups, more pronounced in the mini-invasive group.
• The control group exhibited superior limb coordination, particularly during the take-off phase, indicating asymmetrical push-off in operated limbs.

Conclusions:

• Jumping evaluation revealed similar functional results between open and mini-invasive Achilles tendon repair techniques.
• Despite comparable overall function, subtle differences in limb coordination persist post-surgery.