Primary repair without augmentation for early neglected Achilles tendon ruptures in the recreational athlete

From 1987 to 1994, the senior author performed 41 Achilles tendon repairs. We identified 11 patients during this period (age, 35.3 years; range, 26-60 years) who fit the criterion for neglected Achilles tendon rupture (repair > or = 4 weeks and < or = 12 weeks from injury). All patients underwent proximal release of the gastrocsoleus complex, imbrication of the early fibrous scar without excision of any local tissue, and primary repair of the tendinous ends with two No. 5 Ticron sutures (5R, 6L). Several (three to five) No. 0 Vicryl sutures were used to augment the repair. The ankle was placed in a 20 degree plantarflexion nonweightbearing short leg cast for 3 weeks. All skin closures were primary. At 3 weeks, weightbearing as tolerated was initiated in a short leg cast. The cast was discontinued at 6 weeks, and physical therapy was initiated, consisting of range of motion exercises and closed kinetic exercises, progressing to functional exercises as swelling, strength, and pain allowed. Minimal follow-up was 18 months (mean, 3.5 years; range, 1.5-5.8 years). There have been no subsequent ruptures to date. All patients returned to a preinjury level of activity at a mean of 5.8 months (range, 2.5-9 months). Total range of motion was not different (P > 0.05) between the involved (67 degree) and uninvolved (74 degree) ankle. Plantarflexion loss of strength in the involved ankle was the same (98.4%, 88.1%, and 87.6% respectively, involved to uninvolved) as that seen after acute repair at all speeds tested. Visual analog pain scale (0 to 10) revealed a mean score of 0.7 (range 0-2) during activities of daily living and 1.0 (range, 0-3) during sports activity. The subjective and objective outcome was similar (P > 0.05) to that seen after an acute repair by the same surgeon. There were no complications including skin sloughs or nerve damage. We believe this is the first article to report the results after primary repair without augmentation for the neglected Achilles tendon rupture. We conclude that this approach can result in excellent clinical and functional outcome, a low rate of subsequent rupture, and a high rate of return to sports in the recreational athlete whose repair is performed between 4 and 12 weeks after injury.