Outcomes Following Treatment of the Infected Achilles Tendon

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Infectious Disease Management
• Musculoskeletal Health

Background:

• Achilles tendon surgery infections are severe complications with poor outcomes.
• Limited data exists on effective treatment strategies and their results.
• This study addresses the outcomes of treating infected Achilles tendons post-repair.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate clinical and functional outcomes of patients treated for infected Achilles tendons.
• To assess the effectiveness of radical debridement, wound closure, and antibiotics.
• To provide insights into managing this challenging complication.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 20 patients treated for infected Achilles tendons (2000-2016).
• Involved extensive debridement, wound coverage, culture-specific IV antibiotics (3-6 weeks), immobilization, and physical therapy.
• Functional outcomes assessed using the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) ADL scale.

Main Results:

• All wounds healed; 15% required repeat debridement.
• All patients achieved unaided ambulation, with 25% needing ongoing boot/brace support.
• The average FAAM score was 87, with most patients reporting normal or near-normal function.

Conclusions:

• Radical debridement, wound closure, and culture-specific IV antibiotics can eradicate infection.
• Satisfactory functional results are achievable following this treatment approach.
• Effective management of infected Achilles tendons is possible, leading to good patient outcomes.