Achilles tendon injuries in athletes

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Achilles tendon injuries are prevalent in competitive athletes, with paratenonitis and insertional complaints being most common.
• Males and athletes in running sports exhibit higher incidence rates, often linked to overuse and mechanical factors.
• Older athletes are more susceptible to overuse injuries, while complete ruptures in recreational athletes occur at a younger age.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the types, causes, and treatment outcomes of Achilles tendon injuries in athletes.
• To identify predisposing factors and histological changes associated with Achilles tendon overuse injuries.
• To evaluate the efficacy of surgical versus conservative management for various Achilles tendon pathologies.

Main Methods:

• Review of Achilles tendon injury types, including paratenonitis, tendinitis, bursitis, and ruptures.
• Analysis of epidemiological data, focusing on gender, age, sport type, and predisposing factors.
• Examination of treatment strategies, surgical outcomes, re-operation rates, and career impact.

Main Results:

• Two-thirds of Achilles tendon injuries are paratenonitis; one-fifth are insertional complaints.
• Approximately 75% of tendon ruptures stem from sports involving jumping and sprinting.
• Surgery yields 70-90% success for comeback, but 20% require re-operation, and 3-5% end careers.

Conclusions:

• Conservative treatment is recommended for myotendineal junction pain and partial Achilles tendon ruptures.
• Surgical intervention is preferred for complete Achilles tendon ruptures to optimize recovery and minimize re-rupture risk.
• Ankle overpronation and limited joint mobility are identified as key predisposing biomechanical factors in Achilles tendon overuse injuries.