Application of internal fixation of steel-wire limited loop in early Achilles tendon rupture

• Published in: Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine Vol. 6; no. 11; pp. 902 - 907
• Main Authors: Chen, Zhe, Wei, Jia–Sen, Hou, Zhao–Yang, Hu, Jiong, Cao, Yan–Guang, Chen, Qi–Xin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Elsevier B.V 01.11.2013; Department of 0rthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310005, Zhejiang, China%Department of 0rthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China
• Subjects: Achilles; Achilles Tendon - injuries; Achilles Tendon - physiopathology; Achilles Tendon - surgery; Achilles tendon rupture; Adolescent; Adult; Ankle; Ankle function; Exercise Test; Female; fixation; Follow-Up Studies; function; Humans; Internal; Internal fixation; limited; loop; Male; Middle Aged; Orthopedic Procedures - methods; Range of Motion, Articular; rupture; Rupture - physiopathology; Rupture - surgery; Severity of Illness Index; Steel; Steel-wire; Steel–wire limited loop; Suture Techniques; tendon; Tendon Injuries - physiopathology; Tendon Injuries - surgery; Tensile Strength; Treatment Outcome; Weight-Bearing; Internal fixation; Steel–wire limited loop; Achilles tendon rupture; Ankle function; Steel-wire limited loop
• ISSN: 1995-7645; 2352-4146
• DOI: 10.1016/S1995-7645(13)60161-3

Objective:To explore the clinical effect and safety of internal fixation of steel-wire limited loop in early Achilles tendon rupture.Methods:Seventy-six patients respectively with early transected and avulsed types of Achilles tendon rupture were selected and treated with internal fixation of steel-wire limited loop.The patients began to take exercise for their lower limbs through continous passive motion as early as possible after surgical repair,and the loops were removed after 3-5 months.Six months later,the condition of complications including Achilles tendon re-rupture,wound fistula,wound infection and skin necrosis,cutaneous sensation in sural nerve dominance region,time back to preinjury work or learning as well as time to physical activities were observed.One year later,the therapeutic effect was evaluated,and the maximum circumferences of bilateral legs and raptured plane circumferences of Achilles tendon were measured.Results:The wound of all patients healed well,no complications like Achilles tendon re-rupture,wound fistula,wound infection and skin necrosis occured,and the cutaneous sensation in sural nerve dominance region was normal.The mean time back to preinjury work or learning as well as to pysical activities of all patients were respectively 10 and 22 weeks.Seventy out of 76 patients(92.1%) achieved an excellent effect,and 6(7.9%) good effect.The excellent and good rate came up to 100%.The maximum circumference in the affected leg decreased to 2 mm averagely compared with the offside,while the ruptured plane circumferences of Achilles tendon in the affected side increased to 2.2 mm compared with the offside.Conclusions:Kor early Achilles tendon rupture,internal fixation of steel-wire limited loop can recover the ankle function better,return to the preinjury state in the shortest lime,and has few complications.