Open minimally invasive Achilles tendon repair with early rehabilitation: functional results of 25 consecutive patients

Efectos de los ejercicios pliométricos en pacientes postoperatorio de rotura del tendón calcáneo

De la ruptura del tendón Aquileo se tiene conocimiento desde la antigua Grecia, la cual ha ido en aumento en los últimos años, por ende, se busca implementar mejores herramientas para el tratamiento de la misma, siendo una de ellas los ejercicios pliométricos. Estudios tipo meta-análisis, ensayos controlados aleatorizados y experimentales observaron que la aplicación de ejercicios pliométricos en la mayoría de los participantes mejoraba la calidad del tendón, aumentando elasticidad y disminuyendo su rigidez  (p<0.01) en 14 estudios y en los 3 estudios restantes, no mejoraba la estructura del tendón, sin embargo, mejoraba la sintomatología y funcionalidad del mismo en estudios tardíos (p<0.01). La aplicación de ejercicios pliométricos es una herramienta adicional para tratar a los sujetos sometidos a una operación de ruptura de tendón Aquileo, el cual debe ser aplicado en estadios finales en rehabilitación, mejorando la rigidez del tejido, aumentando la funcionalidad y disminuyendo el dolor crónico.

Twelve-years’ experience in minimal invasive Achilles tendon repair using a suture-guiding device

Introduction:

Minimal invasive Achilles tendon repair is becoming more and more popular recently. We have evaluated our results in Achilles tendon repair using minimally invasive method by a suture-guiding device.

Methods:

This is a retrospective review of patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture, which was repaired using minimally invasive method namely the suture-guiding device, that was performed during 2003 to 2015 in our department. Outcome parameters were the incidence of re-rupture, other complications, and the functional outcome.

Results:

There were 36 men (90%) and 4 women (10%) in this study. Mechanisms of injury were basketball (28%), football (15%), squash (15%), and trauma (13%). The mean operating time was 59 min (range 30–90 min). The mean follow-up time was 8 months (range 3–35 months). The mean duration with casting was 7 weeks. The mean range of movement at 3 months was 8° dorsiflexion and 33° plantar flexion. There was no major complication necessitating surgical re-interventions such as re-ruptures and infections. No patient suffered from dysfunction of the sural nerve or delay wound healing.

Conclusion:

Minimally invasive Achilles tendon repair using suture-guiding device is a safe and quick procedure with a low rate of re-rupture and a satisfactory short-term and long-term recovery. Level of evidence: IV.

Defining Components of Early Functional Rehabilitation for Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Early functional rehabilitation is frequently discussed in treating Achilles tendon rupture. A consistent definition of what constitutes early functional rehabilitation has not been established across the literature, despite studies supporting its efficacy. A standardized definition would be helpful to pool data across studies, allow for between-study comparisons, and ultimately work toward developing clinical guidelines.

PURPOSE

To define early functional rehabilitation (including when it is initiated and what it entails) when used to treat Achilles tendon rupture and to identify outcome measures for evaluating the effect of treatment.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, PEDro, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases were searched for relevant studies. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies consisted of randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case series (≥10 participants) including weightbearing or exercise-based interventions within 8 weeks after Achilles tendon rupture.

RESULTS

A total of 174 studies published between 1979 and 2018 were included. Studies were rated a median (interquartile range [IQR]) of 17 (15-20) on the Downs & Black checklist and included 9098 participants. Early functional rehabilitation incorporated weightbearing (95%), range of motion (73%), and isometric/strengthening exercises (50%). Weightbearing was initiated within the first week, whereas exercise (eg, ankle range of motion, strengthening, whole-body conditioning) was initiated in the second week. Initiation of exercises varied based on whether treatment was nonsurgical (mean, 3.0 weeks; IQR, 2.0-4.0 weeks) or simple (mean, 2.0 weeks; IQR, 0.0-2.3 weeks) or augmented surgical repair (mean, 0.5 weeks; IQR, 0.0-2.8 weeks) (P = .017). Functional outcomes including ankle range of motion (n = 84) and strength (n = 76) were reported in 130 studies. Other outcome domains included patient-reported outcomes (n = 89), survey-based functional outcomes (n = 50), and tendon properties (n = 53).

CONCLUSION

Early functional rehabilitation includes weightbearing and a variety of exercise-based interventions initiated within the first 2 weeks after acute Achilles tendon rupture/repair. Because early functional rehabilitation has lacked a standardized definition, interventions and outcome measures are highly variable, and pooling data across studies should be done with attention paid to what was included in the intervention and how treatment was assessed.

Increasing age in Achilles rupture patients over time

BACKGROUND

The changing demographics of Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) patients have not fully been investigated. However, there has been a general suspicion that this injury is occurring in an increasingly older population, in terms of mean age. The aim of this study was to objectively show an increase in age in Achilles tendon rupture patients over time.

METHODS

Published literature on Achilles tendon ruptures was searched for descriptive statistics on the demographics of patients in the studies, specifically mean and median age of Achilles tendon rupture patients, gender ratio, percentage of athletics-related injuries, percentage of smokers, and BMI. Linear regression analyses were performed to determine the trend of patient demographics over time. A Welch one-way ANOVA was carried out to identify any possible differences in data obtained from different types of studies.

RESULTS

The patient demographics from 142 studies were recorded, with all ATR injuries occurring between the years 1953 and 2014. There was no significant difference in the mean age data reported by varying study types, i.e. randomized controlled trial, cohort study, case series, etc. (P=0.182). There was a statistically significant rise in mean age of ATR patients over time (P<0.0005). There was also a statistically significant drop in percentage of male ATR patients (P=0.02). There is no significant trend for percentage of athletics-related injuries, smoking or BMI.

CONCLUSION

Since 1953 to present day, the mean age at which ATR occurs has been increasing by at least 0.721 years every five years. In the same time period, the percentage of female study patients with ATR injuries has also been increasing by at least 0.6% every five years.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III; Retrospective cohort study.

Percutaneous repair followed by accelerated rehabilitation for acute Achilles tendon ruptures

PURPOSE

To evaluate the outcome after percutaneous repair followed by accelerated rehabilitation for acute Achilles tendon ruptures.

METHODS

21 men and 9 women (mean age, 41 years) underwent percutaneous repair by a single senior surgeon for acute Achilles tendon ruptures, followed by early weight bearing and accelerated rehabilitation. Outcome measures included the Achilles tendon re-rupture rate, the Achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS) at 3 and 6 months, the incidence of sural nerve injury, wound infection, wound dehiscence, patient satisfaction, and the time to return to pre-rupture activity.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 12.5 months. The mean ATRS score improved from 57.65 at 3 months to 86.95 at 6 months (p<0.001). No patient had intra-operative complications, tendon re-rupture, sural nerve injury, wound dehiscence, or deep infection. Two patients developed a superficial wound infection, which was resolved with oral flucloxacillin. Two patients had a mass at the transverse incision, but neither had any symptoms or functional restriction. All patients were able to bear full weight comfortably without the walker boot at 8 weeks, and return to their work by 3 months. The mean time to return to pre-rupture activity, including sports, was 10.4 months. The mean satisfaction rate was 87% at 6 months.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous repair of the Achilles tendon followed by early weight bearing and accelerated rehabilitation achieves good functional outcome.

[Rare case of bilateral rupture of the Achilles tendon with no notion of tendinopathy or ankle surgery in a young athlete: report of a case and review of literature]

Les lésions du tendon d'Achille sont plus fréquentes que celles du tendon quadricipital ou patellaire. Les lésions bilatérales sont par contre plus rares et sont souvent associées à une notion de tendinopathie, d'injection de corticoïdes ou de maladies systémiques tels que le lupus érythémateux, l'ostéomalacie ou l'insuffisance rénale chronique. Nous rapportons le cas d'un patient de 34 ans victime d'une rupture bilatérale des tendons d'Achille suite à une réception de saut lors de la pratique de gymnastique. Le patient n’était pas suivi pour maladie de système ou mis sous corticothérapie ou fluoroquinolones. Le diagnostic a été suspecté devant une dépression anormalement creusant le relief sous cutané des deux tendons d'Achille avec une impossibilité de flexion dorsale des deux chevilles en association à un signe de Thompson bilatéralement positif. L’échographie a confirmé le diagnostic. Le patient a été traité par laçage et suture tendineuse à ciel ouvert. La rupture bilatérale du tendon d'Achille est rare. La plupart des patients rapportent une notion de maladie systémique ou un antécédent de chirurgie du genou. Nous rapportons le cas d'une lésion rare dans la littérature, une rupture bilatérale des tendons achiléens sans notions de maladies auto-immunes ni de traitement aux corticoïdes. Les lésions bilatérales présentent certaines particularités thérapeutiques et évolutives. En effet, deux difficultés sont à noter la première réside dans l'absence de référence comparative pour régler et apprécier l’équin physiologique lors de la réparation tendineuse. La deuxième difficulté est l'obligation de différer l'appui à 45 jours. Ce qui est contraignant pour le patient. La technique de réparation à ciel ouvert couplée à une immobilisation en équin protégeant la suture nous a donné des résultats satisfaisants.

Assessment of Postoperative Tendon Quality in Patients With Achilles Tendon Rupture Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Tendon Fiber Tracking

Although pre- and postoperative imaging of Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) has been well documented, radiographic evaluations of postoperative intratendinous healing and microstructure are still lacking. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is an innovative technique that offers a noninvasive method for describing the microstructure characteristics and organization of tissues. DTI was used in the present study for quantitative assessment of fiber continuity postoperatively in patients with acute ATR. The data from 16 patients with ATR from 2005 to 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The microstructure of ART was evaluated using tendon fiber tracking, tendon continuity, fractional anisotropy, and apparent diffusion coefficient values by way of DTI. The distal and proximal portions were measured separately in both the ruptured and the healthy extremities of each patient. The mean patient age was 41.56 ± 8.49 (range 26 to 56) years. The median duration of follow-up was 21 (range 6 to 80) months. The tendon fractional anisotropy values of the ruptured Achilles tendon were significantly lower statistically than those of the normal side (p = .001). However, none of the differences between the 2 groups with respect to the distal and proximal apparent diffusion coefficient were statistically significant (p = .358 and p = .899, respectively). In addition, the fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficient measurements were not significantly different in the proximal and distal regions of the ruptured tendons compared with the healthy tendons. The present study used DTI and fiber tracking to demonstrate the radiologic properties of postoperative Achilles tendons with respect to trajectory and tendinous fiber continuity. Quantifying DTI and fiber tractography offers an innovative and effective tool that might be able to detect microstructural abnormalities not appreciable using conventional radiologic techniques.

[Open surgical treatment of recent ruptures of the Achilles tendon]

Les ruptures du tendon calcanéen quelles soient sous cutanées ou par section direct sont de plus en plus fréquentes. Plusieurs techniques chirurgicales, qu'elles soient à ciel ouvert ou percutanées ont été mises au point pour traitée ce type de lésion. À travers une étude rétrospective descriptive sur la prise en charge chirurgicale des ruptures de tendon calcanéen fraiches. Nous avons analysé les résultats fonctionnels de 38 patients, tous opéré par une chirurgie à ciel ouvert. Les points forts de notre étude étaient l'absence de rupture itérative, principale complication du traitement chirurgicale des ruptures du tendon calcanéen, un faible taux de complications liées à la chirurgie à ciel ouvert, ainsi que les résultats fonctionnels satisfaisants.

A novel repair method for the treatment of acute Achilles tendon rupture with minimally invasive approach using button implant: a biomechanical study

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive Q3 repair has been proposed for acute Achilles tendon rupture with low rate of complications. However there are still controversies about optimal technique. In this study we aimed to describe Endobutton-assisted modified Bunnell configuration as a new Achilles tendon repair technique and evaluate its biomechanical properties comparing with native tendon and Krackow technique.

METHODS

27 ovine Achilles tendons were obtained and randomly placed into 3 groups with 9 specimens ineach. The Achilles tendons were repaired with Endobutton-assisted modified Bunnell technique in group 1, Krackow suture technique in group 2 and group 3 was defined as the control group including native tendons. Unidirectional tensile loading to failure was performed at 25mm/min. Biomechanicalproperties such as peak force to failure (N), stress at peak (MPa), elongation at failure, and Young'smodulus (GPa) was measured for each group. All groups were compared with each other using one-wayANOVA followed by the Tukey HSD multiple comparison test (a=0.05).

RESULTS

The average peak force (N) to failure of group 1 and group 2 and control group was 415.6±57.6, 268.1±65.2 and 704.5±85.8, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between native tendon and group 1 for the amount elongation at failure (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Regarding the results, we concluded that Endobutton-assisted modified Bunnell technique provides stronger fixation than conventional techniques. It may allow early range of motion and can be easily applied in minimally invasive and percutaneous methods particularly for cases with poor quality tendon at the distal part of rupture.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II, Biomechanical research study.

Evaluation of surgical treatment for ruptured Achilles tendon in 31 athletes

INTRODUCTION

In the past few decades, the incidence of Achilles tendon rupture has increased in parallel with increased sports participation. Although the optimal treatment remains controversial, there is a trend towards surgical treatment in athletes.

HYPOTHESIS

Surgical repair of ruptured Achilles tendon in athlete results in good functional and objective recovery, irrespective of the type of surgery performed. Subsidiarily, are the results different between percutaneous surgery (PS) and standard open surgery (OS)?

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of 31 patients who presented with a ruptured Achilles tendon that occurred during sports participation. Percutaneous surgery was performed in 16 patients and open surgery in 15 patients between 2005 and 2009. The objective recovery status was evaluated by open chain goniometry, measurement of leg muscle atrophy and assessment of isokinetic strength. The functional analysis was based on the delay, level of sports upon return, AOFAS and VAS for pain.

RESULTS

Our series of Achilles tendon rupture patients consisted of 88% men and 12% women, with an average age of 38 years. In 71% of cases, the rupture occurred during eccentric loading. After a follow-up of 15 months, the muscle atrophy was 13 mm after PS and 24 mm after OS (P=0.01). A strength deficit of 19% in the plantar flexors was found in the two groups. No patient experienced a rerupture. The return to sports occurred at 130 days after PS and 178 days after OS (P=0.005). The average AOFAS score was 94 and the VAS was 0.5. There were no differences in ankle range of motion between the two groups. The majority (77%) of patients had returned to their preinjury level of sports activity.

DISCUSSION

The return to activities of daily living was slower in our study than in studies based in Anglo-Saxon countries; this can be explained by the different sick leave coverage systems. Percutaneous surgery resulted in a faster return to sports (about 130 days) and less muscle atrophy than open surgery. Our results for return to sports and return to preinjury levels were similar to published results for athletes and were independent of the type of surgery performed. The AOFAS score was comparable to published studies. We found no difference in muscle strength between the two surgery groups 15 months after the procedure. Apart from venous thrombosis typically described after lower-limb immobilization, secondary postoperative complications mostly consisted of sural paresthesia, which had resolved at the 15-month postoperative follow-up evaluation.

CONCLUSION

The results of surgical treatment for ruptured Achilles tendon are good overall. By combining the simplicity of conservative treatment and the reliability of standard surgical treatment, percutaneous surgery is the treatment of choice to achieve excellent results. The return to sports occurred earlier, the muscle atrophy was less and the functional score was better in our patients treated by percutaneous surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.