Outcome after operative treatment for chronic versus acute Achilles tendon rupture - A comparative analysis

Background: This study compared outcomes after treatment of acute Achilles tendon (AT) rupture via percutaneous suturing, with those after chronic AT rupture treated via open reconstruction. Methods: This retrospective study included 30 patients who underwent either percutaneous suturing for acute AT rupture (group AR, n = 16) or open reconstruction for chronic AT rupture (group CR, n = 14). Function was evaluated by calf muscle circumference, and endurance through isokinetic measurement and single-leg heel-rise test. Score evaluation included AT Total Rupture Score, Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles questionnaire, and visual analogue scale pain score. Postoperative tendon thickness was measured using ultrasonography and MRI. Results: Follow-up was conducted 4.97 +/- 1.79 years postoperatively. The groups were similar in age and body mass index. There was no significant difference between groups in calf circumference, isokinetic measurement, heel-rise test, and score evaluation. There was significantly less mediolateral tendon thickening in group AR compared with group CR on ultrasonography (p = 0.01) and MRI (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Open reconstruction for chronic AT rupture may result in comparable clinical and functional outcomes, but a thicker tendon compared with percutaneous suturing after acute AT rupture. (C) 2016 European Foot and Ankle Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.