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Outcomes of open "crown" type v. percutaneous Bunnell type repair of acute Achilles tendon ruptures. Randomized
Aleksas Makulavičius1, Giedrius Mazarevičius1, Mindaugas Klinga1
1Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Clinic of Rheumatology, Traumatology Orthopaedic and Reconstructive Surgery, Centre of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Republican Vilnius University Hospital, Šiltnamių g. 29, LT-04130 Vilnius, Lithuania.
Background:
The optimal treatment of acute Achilles tendon ruptures (AATR) is still under debate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes of open repair comparing with percutaneous procedure for AATR.
Methods:
100 patients with AATR were randomized in two groups: open "crown" type (group A) and percutaneous Bunnell type repair (group B). 87 patients were available for the mean follow up of 27months RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was observed between groups in ATRS score, leg circumference, single heel rise, Achilles resting angle, time back to work and sports and overall patient satisfaction. Percutaneous technique was much faster. Overall 13 complications occurred in both groups (5 and 8 respectively). No deep infection occurred, no revisions were needed.
Conclusions:
Both techniques showed to be effective and safe when using absorbable suture material with a high patient satisfaction and a low complication rate, but percutaneous repair was significantly faster.
