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Mini-open tenorrhaphy yields good results for Achilles tendon ruptures
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Researchers of this study found high foot and ankle scores and satisfaction rates in patients with acute, spontaneous Achilles tendon ruptures who underwent Dresden mini-open tenorrhaphy.
“The excellent functional and satisfaction results, ease of the procedure and avoidance of sural nerve damage make the mini-open technique an attractive alternative for acute, spontaneous Achilles tendon ruptures,” the authors wrote in the abstract.
The retrospective study included 100 consecutive patients with a mean follow-up of 42.1 months and age of 42 years. All of the patients underwent the procedure between January 2005 and August 2011 and 91 patients were men. The patients underwent 30 days of prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and subcutaneous low-molecular weight heparin (enoxaparin or fondaparinux) postoperatively. The surgeons placed each patient in a removable boot with no weight-bearing for 2 weeks following surgery.
The mean return to work was 56 days and return to same sport was 18.9 weeks. Seven patients did not return to sport. The average American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score was 97.7 points and 98 patients were satisfied with their results, according to the satisfaction scale of Johnson and colleagues.
There was no soft-tissue or sural-nerve damage, but two patients had re-ruptures and five patients had a DVT.
“In our experience, the Dresden technique is easy to perform and to teach,” the authors wrote in the study. “We have introduced it to our residents and colleagues with reproducible results.” — by Renee Blisard Buddle
Disclosure: Keller, Ortiz, Wagner, Wagner and Mococain have no relevant financial disclosures.
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