scholarly journals Minimally invasive reconstruction technique for chronic Achilles tendon tears allows rapid return to walking and leads to good functional recovery

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 305-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paweł Bąkowski ◽  
Kinga Ciemniewska-Gorzela ◽  
Krzysztof Talaśka ◽  
Jan Górecki ◽  
Dominik Wojtkowiak ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Chronic Achilles tendon tears, including chronic ruptures with end gap over 6 cm making end-to-end suturing impossible, can be treated with autologous hamstring graft reconstruction. The primary goal of this study was to present the biomechanical and long-term clinical results of recently developed minimally invasive Achilles tendon reconstruction technique. Methods Minimally invasive Achilles tendon reconstruction was applied to 8 foot and ankle cadaveric specimens as well as 18 patients with chronic Achilles tendon tears. Repaired cadavers were subjected to the biomechanical testing using a cyclic loading protocol. Patients with reconstructed Achilles tendon were subjected to the clinical, functional and isokinetic tests at 12 months after the treatment. Results All of tested Achilles cadaveric specimens survived 2 loading blocks (250 cycles of 10–100 N load followed by additional 250 cycles of 10–200 N load). With three specimens, it was possible to perform the third cyclic loading block with 20-300 N load and two specimens survived the fourth block with 20–400 N load. Therefore, a mean number of 838 cycles (±178) within the range of 509–1000 was recorded. Two specimens which survived all 1000 cycles were pulled to failure at 25 mm/s rate. The results obtained in the load to failure testing were as follows: 398 N and 608 N of maximum load. The results of functional heel rise endurance test and single leg hop for distance test indicated a decrease in the endurance and strength of the injured limb. However, the results of the weight-bearing lunge tests indicated no tendency for elongation of the Achilles tendon. A comparative analysis of the isokinetic test results for the non-injured and injured limb was revealed no statistically significant differences for every isokinetic test (n. s.), with significant difference for isometric strength parameters (p = 0.0006). Conclusions The results of the biomechanical tests as well as 1-year extensive functional, clinical and isokinetic results of the minimally invasive technique for chronic Achilles tendon tears are encouraging. Patients returned to their normal physical activity, including sport pre-injury level in most cases. Level of evidence III

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 1333-1342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prashant N. Gedam ◽  
Faizaan M. Rushnaiwala

Background: The objective of this study was to report the results of a new minimally invasive Achilles reconstruction technique and to assess the perioperative morbidity, medium- to long-term outcomes, and functional results. Methods: Our series was comprised 14 patients (11 men and 3 women), with a mean age of 45.6 years at surgery. Each patient had a chronic Achilles tendon rupture. The mean interval from rupture to surgery was 5.5 months (range, 2-10). The mean total follow-up was 30.1 months (range, 12-78). All patients were operated with a central turndown flap augmented with free semitendinosus tendon graft and percutaneous sutures in a minimally invasive approach assisted by endoscopy. The patients underwent retrospective assessment by clinical examination, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot score, and the Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score (ATRS). Paired t tests were used to assess the preoperative and postoperative AOFAS scores, ATRS scores, and ankle range of motion. Results: The length of the defect ranged from 3 to 8 cm (mean, 5.1), while the length of the turndown flap ranged from 8 to 13 cm (mean, 10.1). The mean AOFAS score improved from 64.5 points preoperatively to 96.9 points at last follow-up. The mean ATRS score improved from 49.4 preoperatively to 91.4 points at last follow-up. None of the patients developed a wound complication. No patient had a rerupture or sural nerve damage. Conclusion: All patients in our study had a favorable outcome with no complications. We believe that with this triple-repair technique, one can achieve a strong and robust repair such as in open surgery while at the same time reducing the incidence of complications. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative study.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng zhao ◽  
Dawei Sun ◽  
Yaru Xiong ◽  
Ribo Zhuo

AbstractIntroductionThe incidence of Achilles tendon rupture shows a gradually increasing trend, which is mainly managed by minimally invasive treatment due to its advantages, such as low wound infection rate. At present, the firmness of the commonly applied minimally invasive suture method for Achilles tendon remains controversial. Our research group has developed a novel suture method for Achilles tendon, which has achieved favorable clinical outcomes. Therefore, this experiment aimed to explore the optimal approach to repair Achilles tendon rupture through comparing the biomechanical strength of the commonly used Achilles tendon suture methods currently.Materials and methods6 fresh frozen human cadaveric Achilles tendon specimens were sutured by three kinds of technique, and were tested through the cyclical loading after repair.ResultsResults of cyclical loading showed that, the repair using the new technique was stronger after 10 cycles, 1000 cycles, and rupture. Moreover, the new technique had displayed superior anti-deformation strength to that of the Ma-Griffith technique.ConclusionsOur experimental results demonstrate that, the new technique proposed by our research group can attain comparable biomechanical properties to those of the Krachow technique. However, the sample size in this study is small, and further clinical trials are warranted.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-273
Author(s):  
Vinicius Oliveira ◽  
Sérgio Prata

Objective: To assess the degree of postoperative satisfaction of patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture who underwent surgical reconstruction by a minimally invasive technique using Tenolig®. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted with 18 patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture diagnosed by a positive Thompson test who underwent surgery. Outcomes were assessed using the American  arthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and the Foot Function Index (FFI). Furthermore, quantitative variables were descriptively treated, and patients’ age was correlated with FII and AOFAS score using Spearman’s correlation coefficient at a significance level of 5%. Results: Patients underwent surgery from one to six days after injury and were discharged one day later. Only one patient had a superficial postoperative infection. Patients’ AOFAS scores ranged from 75 to 100 points, and FFI ranged from 0 to 20%. The patient withsuperficial postoperative infection had an AOFAS score and a FFI of 75 points and 20%, respectively. Conclusion: Percutaneous repair of complete Achilles tendon rupture with Tenolig® resulted in high functional scores and a low rate of complications. Level of Evidence IV; Therapeutic Studies; Case Series.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-244
Author(s):  
Patrick Bull ◽  
J. Mike Miller ◽  
Alan Ng ◽  
Stephen A. Brigido ◽  
Stephen A. Brigido ◽  
...  

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