Objective To review the progress in the treatment of acute Achilles tendon rupture. Methods Recent literature about the treatment of acute Achilles tendon rupture was reviewed and analyzed. Results Treatments of acute Achilles tendon rupture include operative and non-operative treatments. Operative treatments include open surgery and percutaneous minimally invasive surgery. Compared with non-operative treatment, operative treatment can effectively reduce the re-rupture incidence, but it had higher complication incidences of wound infection and nerve injury. Although early functional rehabilitation during non-operative treatment could reduce the re-rupture incidence, there is no consistent orthopaedic device and guideline for functional rehabilitation. Conclusion Both operative and non-operative treatments have advantages and disadvantages for the treatment of acute Achilles tendon rupture. No consistent conclusion is arrived regarding functional recovery. Future studies should explore the strategy of early functional rehabilitation during non-operative treatment and its mechanism of promoting tendon healing.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of modified percutaneous suture in repairing acute closed Achilles tendon rupture by comparing with conventional open suture. Methods Between January 2006 and October 2009, 50 patients with acute closed Achilles tendon rupture were treated with modified percutaneous suture by making 5 small incisions at both sides of Achilles tendon and zigzag suture (improved group, n=22) and with Kessler suture (conventional group, n=28), respectively. No significant difference was found in gender, age, time from injury to operation between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). Results In improved group, the patients achieved healing of incisions by first intention after operation and nocomplication occurred; however, incision infection occurred in 1 case, Achilles tendon re-rupture in 1 case, and incision scar contracture in 2 cases in conventional group. The operation time of improved group [(38.7 ± 6.6) minutes] was significantly shorter (t= —12.29, P=0.00) than that of conventional group [(52.3 ± 6.9) minutes]; the blood loss of improved group [(4.9 ± 2.0) mL] was significantly less (t= —25.20, P=0.00) than that of conventional group [(40.7 ± 7.1) mL]. The patients were followed up 2-3 years (mean, 29.9 months). The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was 99.6 ± 1.0 in improved group and was 98.4 ± 3.0 in conventional group, showing no significant difference between 2 groups (t=1.66, P=0.10). Conclusion Comparison with conventional open suture, modified percutaneous suture has some advantages, such as easy operation, less complications, rapid recovery of limb function, and so on. Modified percutaneous suture is one of the best choices for the treatment of acute closed Achilles tendon rupture.
Objective Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can promote wound heal ing. To observe the effect of PRP injection on the early heal ing of rat’s Achilles tendon rupture so as to provide the experimental basis for cl inical practice. Methods Forty-six Sprague Dawley rats were included in this experiment, female or male and weighing 190-240 g. PRP and platelet-poor plasma (PPP) were prepared from the heart arterial blood of 10 rats; other 36 rats were made the models of Achilles tendon rupture, and were randomly divided into 3 groups (control group, PPP group, and PRP group), 12 rats for each group. In PPP and PRP groups, PPP and PRP of 100 μL were injected around the tendons once a week, respectively; in the control group, nothing was injected. The tendon tissue sample was harvested at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after operation for morphology, histology, and immunohistochemistry observations. The content of collagen type I fibers also was measured. Specimens of each group were obtained for biomechanical test at 4 weeks. Results All the animals survived till the end of the experiment. Tendon edema gradually decreased and sliding improved with time. The tendon adhesion increased steadily from 1 week to 3 weeks postoperatively, and it was relieved at 4 weeks in 3 groups. There was no significant ifference in the grading of tendon adhesion among 3 groups at 1 week and at 4 weeks (P gt; 0.05), respectively. The inflammatory cell infiltration, angiogenesis, and collagen fibers were more in PRP group than in PPP group and control group at 1 week; with time, inflammatory cell infiltration and angiogenesis gradually decreased. Positive staining of collagen type I fibers was observed at 1-4 weeks postoperatively in 3 groups. The positive density of collagen type I fibers in group PRP was significantly higher than that in control group and PPP group at 1, 2, and 3 weeks (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference was found among 3 groups at 4 weeks (P gt; 0.05). The biomechanical tests showed that there was no significant difference in the maximal gl iding excursion among 3 groups at 4 weeks postoperatively (P gt; 0.05); the elasticity modulus and the ultimate tensile strength of PRP group were significantly higher than those of control group and PPP group at 4 weeks (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion PRP injection can improve the healing of Achilles tendon in early repair of rat’s Achilles tendon rupture.
Objective To compare the effectiveness of the 3 methods (traditional open Achilles tendon anastomosis, minimally invasive percutaneous Achilles tendon anastomosis, and Achilles tendon anastomosis limited incision) for acuteAchilles tendon rupture so as to provide a reference for the choice of cl inical treatment plans. Methods Between December 2007 and March 2010, 69 cases of acute Achilles tendon rupture were treated by traditional open Achilles tendon anastomosis (traditional group, n=23), by minimally invasive percutaneous Achilles tendon anastomosis (minimally invasive group, n=23), and by Achilles tendon anastomosis l imited incision (l imited incision group,n=23). There was no significant difference in gender, age, mechanism of injury, and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score between 3 groups (P gt; 0.05). Results Minimally invasive group and limited incision group were significantly better than traditional group in hospital ization days and blood loss (P lt; 0.01). Incision infection occurred in 2 cases of traditional group, and healing of incision by first intention was achieved in all patients of the other 2 groups, showing significant difference in the complication rate (P lt; 0.05). Re-rupture of Achilles tendon occurred in 1 case (4.3%) of minimally invasive group and limited incision group respectively; no re-rupture was found in traditional group (0), showing significant difference when compared with the other 2 groups (P lt; 0.05). All cases were followed up 12-18 months with an average of 14.9 months. The function of the joint was restored. The AOFAS score was more than 90 points in 3 groups at 12 months after operation, showing no significant difference among 3 groups (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion The above 3 procedures can be used to treat acute Achilles tendon rupture. However, minimally invasive percutaneous Achilles tendon anastomosis and Achilles tendon anastomosis limited incision have the advantages of less invasion, good heal ing, short hospital ization days, and less postoperative complication, and have the disadvantage of increased risk for re-rupture of Achilles tendon after operations.
Objective To summarize the cl inical appl ication and experience of repairing acute avulsion-type achilles tendon rupture by locking-loop stereoscopic suture. Methods Between January 2006 and June 2010, 41 cases of acute avulsion-type achilles tendon rupture were treated by locking-loop stereoscopic suture. Among 41 patients, 33 were male and 8were female with an average age of 41 years (range, 18-56 years); the locations were left side in 27 cases and right side in 14 cases. There was palpable defect in 33 cases, 7 cases underwent B-ultrasound, and 1 case underwent MRI to confirm the diagnosis. The time from injury to operation was 36 hours to 7 days. All cases were restored by locking-loop stereoscopic suture. Results All incisions healed by first intention. Thirty-one cases were followed up 12 months to 3 years and 10 months with an average of 17 months. The muscle strength reached grade 5; the patients could walk normally, and the heel raising was powerful at 1 year after operation. The circumference difference between wrong leg and good leg was less than 3 cm, and the ankle dorsiflexion was 20-30°, plantar flexion was 40-50°. No re-rupture of achilles tendon or deep infection occurred during follow-up period. At last follow-up, according to evaluation of curative effects by Arner-Lindholm standard, the results were excellent in 21 cases and good in 10 cases with an excellent and good rate of 100%. Conclusion Locking-loop stereoscopic suturing is a safe and effective method with avulsion-type control abil ity, tensile strength, l ittle effect on the blood supply of the achilles tendon for repairing acute avulsion-type achilles tendon rupture.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of a double-tsuge suture method with absorbable polydioxanone-cord (PDS-II) in repair of Achilles tendon ruptures. Methods Between January 2005 and December 2008, 36 patients suffering from Achilles tendon ruptures were treated operatively. Of 36 patients, there were 29 males and 7 females with a mean age of 36 years (range, 21-50 years), including 22 cases of acute closed injuries, 6 cases of fresh open injuries (the time between injury and hospital ization was 1-10 days, mean 6 days), and 8 cases of old closed injuries (the time between injury and hospital ization was 43-63 days, mean 51 days). The injury reasons were sport injury (25 cases), incisedinjury (6 cases), fall ing injury (4 cases), and other (1 case). The results of “heel test” and the Thompson sign were positive in all patients. Operation was performed by using a double-tsuge suture method with a No. 0 PDS-II. After the ankle joint was fixed with short leg plaster cast at 30° plantar flexion position for 6 weeks, the cast was removed and then functional exercises were done. Results Poor heal ing of incision occurred in 2 cases of old Achilles tendon ruptures and was cured after symptomatic treatment; heal ing of incision by first intention was achieved in the others. The patients were followed up 12 to 24 months (mean, 15 months). No rerupture, deep venous thromboembol ism, or reflex sympathetic dystrophy occurred during follow-up. When compared with the range of motion of ankle joint of normal side, 7 cases had no change, 16 cases had a loss of 1-10°, 12 cases had a loss of 10-20°, and 1 case had a loss of 25°. The average score was 90 (range, 74-96) according to Termann cl inical evaluation criterion; the results were excellent in 24 cases, good in 11 cases, and fair in 1 case, and the excellent and good rate was 97.2%. Conclusion The double-tsuge suture method is easy-to-operate, which has the smallest interference to the blood supply of Achilles tendon because of no crossing or transversal intratendon suture. PDSII can provide highly b stabil ity, furthermore, it can be degenerated completely with tiny foreign body reaction, so there is no tendency to develope local adhesion. This technique achieves good results and is associated with a low morbidity of compl ications.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of flexor hallucis longus tendon harvested using a minimally invasive technique in reconstruction of chronic Achilles tendon rupture. Methods Between July 2006 and December 2009, 22 patients (22 feet) with chronic Achilles tendon rupture were treated, including 16 males and 6 females with a median age of 48 years (range, 28-65 years). The disease duration was 27-1 025 days (median, 51 days). Twenty-one patients had hoofl ikemovement’s history and 1 patient had no obvious inducement. The result of Thompson test was positive in 22 cases. The score was 53.04 ± 6.75 according to American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot score system. MRI indicated that the gap of the chronic Achilles tendon rupture was 4.2-8.0 cm. A 3 cm-long incision was made vertically in the plantar aspect of the midfoot and a 1 cm-long transverse incision was made in a plantar flexor crease at the base of the great toe to harvest flexor hallucis longus tendon. The flexor hallucis longus tendon was 10.5-13.5 cm longer from tuber calcanei to the end of the Achilles tendon, and then the tendon was fixed to the tuber calcanei using interface screws or anchor nail after they were woven to form reflexed 3-bundle and sutured. Results Wound healed by first intention in all patients and no early compl ication occurred. Twenty-two patients were followed up 12-42 months (mean, 16.7 months). At 12 months after operation, The AOFAS ankle and hindfoot score was 92.98 ± 5.72, showing significant difference when compared with that before operation (t= —40.903, P=0.000). The results were excellent in 18 cases, good in 2 cases, and fair in 2 cases with an excellent and good rate of 90.9%. No sural nerve injury, posterior tibial nerve injury, plantar painful scar, medial plantar nerve injury, and lateral plantar nerve injury occurred. Conclusion Chronic Achilles tendon rupture reconstruction with flexor hallucis longus tendon harvested using a minimally invasive technique offers a desirable outcome in operative recovery, tendon fixation, and complications.
Objective To assess the short-term effect of the mini-invasive surgical method by Achillon in repair of acute achilles tendon rupture. Methods Between December 2009 and February 2010, 11 patients (11 feet) with acute achilles tendon ruptures were treated, including 8 males (8 feet) and 3 females (3 feet) with an average age of 35.4 years (range, 23-58 years). There were 9 cases of jump injury, 1 case of glass cut injury, and 1 case of fall injury. The results of Thompson testwere positive in 11 cases (11 feet). According to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfootscoring system, the score was 53.19 ± 6.31. MRI indicated that the gap of the acute achilles tendon rupture was 1-5 cm (3.8 cm on average). The interval between injury and operation was 2-7 days (3.6 days on average). An approximately longitudinal 3- 4 cm incision was performed and the ruptured achilles tendon was repaired by use of Achillon. Early rehabil itation was carried out. Results The operation time was 27-58 minutes (38 minutes on average). The hospital ization time were 2-3 days (2.5 days on average). Superficial wound infections occurred in 2 cases, and wound healed after dressing change; orther incision healed by first intention. All the patients were followed up 5-8 months with an average of 6.7 months. No wound problems, sural nerve injuries, or re-ruptures occurred in the other cases. After a 3-month follow-up, all patients were able to return to normal walking. The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was 94.32 ± 4.23, showing significant difference when compared with that before operation (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The technique with Achillon offers patients a safe procedure for repair of acute achilles tendon ruptures and early active rehabil itation can be carried out.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of interference screw and flexor hallucis longus tendon as augmentation material in repair of chronic Achilles tendon rupture. Methods From October 2004 to June 2007, 32 patients (35 feet) with chronic Achilles tendon rupture were treated, including 21 males (22 feet) and 11 females (13 feet) and aging 32-85 years. The disease course was 4-132 days. There were 29 patients with hoofl ike movements history and 3 patients withoutobvious inducement. The result of Thompson test was positive in 31 cases (33 feet). The score was 56.09 ± 7.25 according to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot scoring system (AOFAS). MRI indicated that the gap of the chronic Achilles tendon rupture was 0.5-5.0 cm. Medial foot incision associated with medial heel incision or only medial heel incision was made to harvest flexor hallucis longus tendon. The tendon should be 3 cm longer than the end of the Achilles tendon, then fix the tendon to the calcaneus. Results Wound dehiscence occurred and wound healed after dressing change in 1 case; wound healed by first intention in other patients. Thirty-two patients were followed up for 12-32 months (mean 19.4 months). The AOFAS score was 94.22 ± 4.63, showing statistically significant difference when compared with that before operation (P lt; 0.01). The results were excellent in 28 cases, good in 3 cases and fair in 1 case. No sural nerve injury, posterior tibial nerve injury, plantar painful scar, medial plantar nerve injury and lateral plantar nerve injury occurred. Conclusion Flexor hallucis longus tendon transfer offers a desirable outcome in operative recovery, tendon fixation and compl ications.