Conservative treatment of acute Achilles tendon rupture

BACKGROUND: Achilles tendon is the strongest and thickest band of tissue that connects a muscle to a bone. It is experienced more frequently with prolonged human lifetime and increased interest in sports and the majority of orthopedics emphasize that non-operative methods are insufficient in the treatment of Achilles tendon rupture (ATR). In our study, we aimed to evaluate the results of the non-surgical treatment with early functional rehabilitations after ATR in active sportsman. METHODS: Nonsurgical treatment results of 20 active sportsman with ATR between 2011 and 2018 were evaluated retrospectively. The functional rehabilitation program started from the moment the plaster was applied to all patients. The structural integrity of the tendon was observed by monthly magnetic resonance shots. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS), joint functional healing and pain levels, range of motion, dorsal flexion by dynamometer, plantar flexion muscle strength were analyzed during both the pre-treatment and the post-treatment state. RESULTS: The ages of the sportsman ranged between 24 and 36 years. The return to active sports time of the 90.0% of the participants ranged from 4 to 6 months. Similar results were seen with the intact foot in comparison of muscle strength and range of motion (P>0.05). Significant difference was observed in AOFAS and VAS scales compared to pre-treatment state (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: With the development of functional rehabilitation protocols, similar clinical results to surgical treatment can be obtained in the non-surgical treatment of ATR.