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Updated: Jul 30, 2025
Author Spotlight: Exploring the Complexities of Achilles Tendon Injuries — Research and Future Directions
Published on: October 27, 2023
Re-ruptures and early outcomes after surgical repair of acute Achilles tendon ruptures: prospective, comparative
E Laboute1, P Thoreux2, J Beldame3
1Directeur scientifique Société Française de Traumatologie du Sport (SFTS), C.E.R.S. Groupe Ramsay Santé, 83 av Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 40130, Capbreton, France. e.laboute@ramsaygds.fr.
Purpose:
The primary objective of this study was to compare the re-rupture rate, clinical results, and functional outcomes six months after the surgical repair of an acute Achilles tendon rupture between three different techniques (open repair, percutaneous repair with the Tenolig®, and minimally invasive repair).
Methods:
A prospective, comparative, multicenter, non-randomized study was performed and included 111 patients who had an acute ruptured Achilles tendon: 74 underwent an open repair, 22 underwent a percutaneous repair using the Tenolig® and 15 had a minimally invasive repair. At six months follow-up we analyzed the number of re-ruptures, phlebitis, infections, complex regional pain syndrome, clinical outcomes (muscle atrophy, ankle dorsal flexion), functional scores (ATRS, VISA-A, EFAS, SF-12), and return to running.
Results:
There were more re-ruptures (p=0.0001) after repair with the Tenolig® (27%) than with open repairs (1.3%) and minimally invasive repairs (0%). The rate of other complications was not different. No clinical differences were found between the three groups. Only some functional scores EFAS Total (p=0.006), and VISA-A (p=0.015) were worse in the Tenolig® group. All the other results were similar between the three groups.
Conclusion:
Despite heterogeneous studies in literature, the results of this comparative and prospective study between three surgical techniques of Achilles tendon repair confirmed that Tenolig® repair increased the rate of early re-rupture compared to open or minimally invasive techniques.
