[Wound complications after suturing of Achilles tendon ruptures]

During the period 1983-1988, 254 patients underwent simple end-to-end repair of closed ruptured Achilles tendons in our institution. During the same period, eight patients were treated with plastic repair on account of old ruptures, and 19 patients were treated conservatively on account of relative contraindication to open repair. The material of simple end-to-end repair is analyzed as regards factors which may be supposed to contributory to the rate of infection, wound healing and repeated rupture. The rate of major wound complication was low (2.4%) as was the rate of repeated rupture (1.6%). No single factor responsible for complications could be pointed out. However, compared to a high rate of deep infection in patients treated with plastic repair in our material and also in other studies, simple end-to-end suture is recommended in the treatment of rupture of the Achilles tendon when this is possible.