Treatment of Achilles tendon rupture using different methods

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Traumatology

Background:

• Achilles tendon ruptures are common injuries with ongoing debate regarding optimal treatment strategies.
• Current treatment options include conservative management with plaster casts, open surgical repair, and percutaneous tenorrhaphy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the outcomes of different treatment methods for Achilles tendon ruptures.
• To evaluate percutaneous suturing, open surgery, and non-surgical plaster cast immobilization.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study of 42 patients with Achilles tendon ruptures treated between August 2003 and September 2010.
• Patients were treated with percutaneous reconstruction, open surgery, or plaster cast immobilization under spinal or local anesthesia.
• Outcomes measured included hospital stay, complications, rerupture rates, and return to function.

Main Results:

• Percutaneous surgery resulted in shorter hospital stays (2 days) compared to open surgery (9 days) and conservative treatment (5 hours).
• Open surgery had higher complication rates, including skin issues (14%) and dehiscence (7%).
• Rerupture rates were 16.6% overall, with 50% of conservative cases experiencing rerupture, particularly in diabetic patients.

Conclusions:

• Percutaneous tenorrhaphy under local anesthesia is recommended for fresh Achilles tendon ruptures.
• This minimally invasive approach offers advantages in terms of recovery time and complication profile.
• Surgical intervention, specifically percutaneous repair, should be prioritized for optimal patient outcomes.