Young, active patients likely return to active duty sooner after surgery for Achilles tendon ruptures

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Patients who are operatively treated for Achilles tendon ruptures returned to active duty quicker, however, there were no differences in complications compared with patients who were treated nonoperatively, according to data presented here.

“Our practice pattern did respond to high-level data, which has been found in other Scandinavian studies. This is a small retrospective study with limited functional data, but it does represent an age group of patients approximately a decade younger than those found in studies,” Chris Renninger, MD, LT, MC, USN, of San Diego, said at the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Annual Meeting.

Renninger and colleagues conducted a retrospective comparison of 57 patients who were treated nonoperatively and operatively for acute Achilles tendon ruptures that were closed and unilateral at a military institution during a 3-year period. The operative group, which included 27 patients, and the nonoperative group, which included 30 patients, showed no significant differences in group demographics.

Chris Renninger

The researchers compared the rates of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), re-ruptures and return to duty, as well any complications and the time to return to active duty. On average, there was 10 months of follow-up and the patients’ average age was 31 years.

The overall re-rupture rate found in the study was 5%. All re-ruptures were partial tears. There were no differences in DVT, complications or re-rupture rates in either group. Operatively treated patients had no wound complications. Two patients in the nonoperative group underwent repair with flexor hallucis longus augmentation. The one re-rupture in the operative group was treated nonoperatively.

Renninger said patients in the operative group returned to active duty on average 1.5 months faster than patients in the nonoperative group, which was a statistically significant finding. The rate of return to active duty, however, was not significantly different between the groups. – by Kristine Houck, MA, ELS

Reference:

Renninger C. A retrospective review of Achilles tendon re-ruptures: An institution’s experience applying level 1 data. Presented at: American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Annual Meeting; July 15-18, 2015; Long Beach, Calif.

Disclosure: Renninger reports no relevant financial disclosures.