Achilles Tendon Injuries Requiring Surgical Treatment in the Pediatric and Adolescent Population: A Case Series

Pediatric Achilles tendon injuries requiring surgical treatment are considered rare and have not been well described. A retrospective chart review was conducted from 2010 to 2020 to identify cases of acute Achilles tendon rupture or laceration that required surgical repair in individuals 19 years or younger. A total of 24 individuals with acute Achilles tendon ruptures (n = 8) and lacerations (n = 16) were identified. All spontaneous ruptures occurred in skeletally mature individuals during sports. One subject was on minocycline at the time of injury, while two had a body mass index (BMI) >= 99% for age. Another had a history of clubfoot surgery on the injured side. Patients with lacerations were younger (9.9 +/- 3.3 vs 16.3 +/- 1.6 years) and had lower BMI (17.3 +/- 3.8 vs. 28.0 +/- 9.4) than those with spontaneous ruptures. The majority of cases had good outcomes with no postoperative complications.