Comparative Study of Clinical Outcome of Three Surgical Techniques in the Achilles Tendon Rupture: Open Repair, Percutaneous Repair, and Minimal Incision Repair by Achillon

Won Seok Park; Myoung Jin Lee; Jung Mo Kang; Seung Yup Lee

doi:10.14193/jkfas.2018.22.2.68

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Park, Lee, Kang, and Lee: Comparative Study of Clinical Outcome of Three Surgical Techniques in the Achilles Tendon Rupture: Open Repair, Percutaneous Repair, and Minimal Incision Repair by Achillon

Original Article

Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society 2018; 22(2): 68-73.

Published online: 15 June 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14193/jkfas.2018.22.2.68

Comparative Study of Clinical Outcome of Three Surgical Techniques in the Achilles Tendon Rupture: Open Repair, Percutaneous Repair, and Minimal Incision Repair by Achillon

Won Seok Park^*, Myoung Jin Lee

, Jung Mo Kang, Seung Yup Lee

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea.

^*Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.

Corresponding Author: Myoung Jin Lee. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dong-A University Hospital, 26 Daesingongwon-ro, Seo-gu, Busan 49201, Korea. Tel: 82-51-240-2898, Fax: 82-51-243-9764, tynitus@dau.ac.kr

Received 9 May 2018 Revised 5 June 2018 Accepted 7 June 2018

Korean Foot and Ankle Society

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

This study compared the clinical outcomes of open repair, percutaneous repair, and minimal incision repair by Achillon in ruptured Achilles tendon.

Materials and Methods

The outcomes of 12 patients with open repair (group 1), 8 patients with percutaneous repair (group 2), and 10 patients with minimal incision repair by Achillon (group 3) from February 2013 to March 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. The postoperative clinical evaluations were done by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, Arner-Linholm scale, mid-calf circumference difference, one-leg heel raise difference, visual analogue scale (VAS) for postoperative scarring, time to return to work, and complications.

Results

No significant difference in the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, Arner-Linholm scale, and time to return to work was observed among three groups (p=0.968, 0.509, and 0.585). The mean differences in the mid-calf circumference in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 1.09, 0.73, and 0.58, respectively; groups 2 and 3 were significantly higher than group 1 (p=0.002). In addition, the mean VAS scores for postoperative scarring in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 7.0, 9.1, and 9.1, respectively; groups 2 and 3 were significantly higher than group 1 (p=0.001). The mean differences in one-leg heel raising in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 2.03, 1.91, and 1.33, respectively; group 3 was significantly higher than groups 1 and 2 (p=0.010). The complications encountered were one case of deep infection in group 1 and one case of sural nerve hypoesthesia in group 2.

Conclusion

Minimal incision repair by Achillon is recommended as an effective surgical treatment for Achilles tendon rupture because it minimizes the risk of complications, leads to an improved tendon strength and healing, and achieves cosmetic satisfaction.

Keywords: Achilles tendon, Rupture, Open repair, Percutaneous repair, Achillon

Figures and Tables

Figure 1

Intraoperative photograph that open repair (A) using 2-0 Ethibond by Krackow's suture technique (B).

Figure 2

(A) Preoperative marking of incision was made over the area of the rupture confirmed by ultrasonography in percutaneous repair. (B) Suture configuration of Carmont & Maffulli procedure.

Figure 3

(A) Minimal incision Achilles tendon repair by the Achillon was introduced proximal Achilles tendon stump. (B) The same procedure was performed on the distal stump. (C) Ruptured Achilles tendon was repaired by indirect suture technique by 3 separate sutures.

Table 1

Demographic Patient's Data in Three Groups

Values are presented as number only or mean (range).

Table 2

Clinical and Functional Results of Three Groups at the Last Follow-up

Values are presented as mean (range) or number only.

AOFAS: American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, MMC: mid-calf circumference, VAS: visual analogue scale.

Notes

The point of this thesis was presented by 27th Autumn Congress of Korean Foot and Ankle Society.

^{Financial support} None.

^{Conflict of interest} None.

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ORCID iDs: Myoung Jin Lee
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4388-7196
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