Activity level recovery after acute Achilles tendon rupture surgically repaired: a series of 29 patients with a mean follow-up of 46 months.

BACKGROUND: Achilles tendon rupture is a common injury but its optimal management is still controversial. When decided, surgical repair can be performed by open or percutaneous techniques. Till now, there is no agreement on the ideal type of surgical management.

PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes of the percutaneous and open surgical treatment for acute Achilles tendon rupture and to assess the postoperative activity level recovery.

METHODS: Between 2008 and 2013, 29 patients were surgically treated for acute Achilles tendon rupture in our institution. 16 patients were operated by percutaneous technique and 13 by open repair. All patients received the same postoperative rehabilitation protocol. Patients were evaluated objectively and subjectively after an average of 46 months (23-91).

RESULTS: 96.6% of patients had excellent and good results according to subjective assessment. No significant difference was observed with respect to the examined clinical variables between the open and percutaneous repair groups. 20.68% of patients had minor complications related to the operation with lesser complications in the percutaneous group. 89.6% of patients resumed sport activity with an average delay of 7,7 months (4-24) and 57,7% of them resumed at a level equal or superior to their level before injury, with higher rate in the percutaneous group.

CONCLUSION: Percutaneous technique has similar satisfactory outcomes to open surgery in repairing acute ruptured Achilles tendon with lesser complications and higher activity level recovery rate.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Retrospective comparative study. Level III.