Complications Following Minimally Invasive Achilles Rupture Repair: A Comparative Study of Percutaneous Achilles...

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques for Achilles tendon rupture-Percutaneous Achilles Repair System (PARS) and Midsubstance Speedbridge Implant System (MSB)-reduce complication rates compared with open repair with similar functional outcomes. No consensus in current literature identifies the optimal MIS technique to reduce complications. Our study compares complication rates between PARS and MSB. We hypothesized that complication rates would be similar between groups.

This was a retrospective review of 434 patients who underwent Achilles rupture repair from 2018 to 2023 at a single institution. Tendinopathies, open injuries, concomitant fractures, tendon transfers, gastrocnemius recessions, and open repairs were excluded. A total of 316 patients (212 PARS, 104 MSB) were included for final analysis. Chi squared and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare incidence of complications between groups. Log-binomial logistic regression was used to compare the relative probability of any one postoperative complication between groups.

No notable differences existed in complication rates between groups. Of the 104 MSB, rates included 0% deep vein thrombosis, 0% rerupture, 1.0% sural nerve injury, 1.9% superficial wound, 1.0% deep wound, and 3.8% revision surgery. Of 212 PARS, rates were 0.9% deep vein thrombosis, 1.9% rerupture, 1.9% sural nerve injury, 2.8% superficial wound, 1.4% deep wound, and 3.8% revision surgery. MSB demonstrated higher incidence of heel pain at last follow-up (8.6% vs. 1.9%, P = 0.01). Those who underwent repair with MSB were 70% less likely to experience any complication than those who had repair with PARS (RR = 0.30, 95% confidence interval = 0.10 to 0.87). Men were 61% less likely to experience any complication than women  relative risk (RR) = 0.39, 95% confidence interval = 0.17 to 0.90).

In the largest study to compare MIS Achilles repair techniques, MSB reduces the overall risk of complications following MIS repair. The complication rates of both MIS techniques are lower than the reported values in the literature for open repair. MSB and PARS are safe and effective strategies for surgically managing Achilles ruptures.