Percutaneous achilles tendon repair with absorbable suture: Outcomes and complications

• Published in: Revista española de cirugía ortopédica y traumatología Vol. 67; no. 2; pp. T139 - T143
• Main Authors: Campillo-Recio, D, Comas-Aguilar, M, Ibáñez, M, Maldonado-Sotoca, Y, Albertí-Fitó, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.03.2023
• Subjects: Achilles Tendon - diagnostic imaging; Achilles Tendon - surgery; Humans; Orthopedic Procedures - methods; Prospective Studies; Rupture - surgery; Suture Techniques; Sutures; Tendon Injuries - surgery; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography; Reparación; Sutura reabsorbible; Ultrasonido; Functional outcomes; Achilles tendon; Absorbable suture; Resultados funcionales; Tendón de Aquiles; Repair; Ultrasound; Tratamiento conservador; Conservative treatment
• ISSN: 1988-8856
• DOI: 10.1016/j.recot.2022.12.009

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes and complications of percutaneous achilles tendon repair with absorbable sutures. A prospective cohort study including patients treated for an achilles tendon rupture from January 2016 to March 2019 was conducted. ≥18 years of age, non-insertional (2-8cm proximal to insertion) achilles tendon ruptures. Open or partial ruptures were excluded. The diagnosis was based on clinical criteria and confirmed by ultrasonography in all patients. Epidemiological data, rupture and healing risk factors, previous diagnosis of tendinopathy, pre-rupture sport activity, job information, mechanism of rupture and the time in days between lesion and surgery were collected. Patients were assessed using visual analogue scale at the 1, 3, 6 and 12-month follow-up. The achilles tendon rupture score were assessed at the 6 and 12 month follow-up. Ultrasound was performed at the 6-month follow-up. The re-rupture rate and postoperative complications were also collected. In our experience, percutaneous achilles tendon repair with absorbable sutures in patients with an acute achilles tendon rupture has shown good functional results but with a high incidence of complications. Although most complications were transitory sural nerve symptoms, this complication would be avoided in patients treated conservatively. For this reason, conservative treatment associated with an early weightbearing rehabilitation protocol should be considered a viable option for patients with achilles tendon ruptures, mainly in cooperative young patients.