Comparison of the open primary repair with augmentation and without augmentation in acute achilles tendon rupture

Abstract

Aim: To compare the clinical and the functional effi ciency of 2 surgical methods that are used in open primary repair of acute Achilles tendon ruptures: one that utilizes the augmentation of the plantaris tendon and one that does not. Materials and methods: Data were evaluated from 41 patients that underwent surgical repair for acute Achilles tendon ruptures with these 2 diff erent surgery methods. In the fi rst group, which included 21 patients (19 male, 2 female; mean age: 36.8 years; age range: 22 to 49), we performed augmentation with the plantaris tendon aft er an end-to-end primary repair with a modifi ed Kessler technique. In the second group, which included 20 patients (19 male, 1 female; mean age: 41.4 years; age range: 23 to 52), we did not perform augmentation aft er the end-to-end primary repair with a modifi ed Kessler technique. For both groups, we used polydioxanone suture (PDS) materials in Kessler knots. Results: Th e mean American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot clinical outcome score was 94 ± 6.4 (range: 73-100) in the fi rst group. In the second group, the mean AOFAS score was 94.4 ± 6.1 (range: 76-100). Th e fi rst group’s mean Achilles tendon assessment score was 81.7 ± 10.9 (good, range of 60-96); the mean Achilles tendon assessment score of the second group was 82.4 ± 6.1 (good, range of 71 to 94). Th ere was no statistically signifi cant diff erence between these 2 groups in terms of functional scores (P > 0.05). In the fi rst group, 2 patients (9.5%) had superfi cial skin infections and 1 patient (4.7%) had hypertrophic scar tissue. In the second group, 3 patients (15%) had superfi cial skin infections and 1 patient (5%) experienced a partial rerupture. Conclusion: Clinical and functional results did not show any statistically signifi cant diff erence between methods with or without augmentation when ap