ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of posterior median longitudinal W-shaped incision combined with layer-by-layer combing suture in the treatment of acute closed Achilles tendon rupture.MethodsThe clinical data of 32 patients with acute closed Achilles tendon rupture who met the selection criteria between August 2015 and February 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 25 males and 7 females, with an average age of 33 years (range, 21-48 years). All of them were closed rupture of Achilles tendon caused by sports injury. Physical examination on admission: the rupture space of Achilles tendon was palpable; Thompson sign was positive; the rupture of Achilles tendon was confirmed by MRI and ultrasonography before operation, the distance between the broken end and the insertion point of Achilles tendon was 2-8 cm, with an average of 3.5 cm. The average time from injury to operation was 2.7 days (range, 1-10 days). During the operation, the posterior median longitudinal W-shaped incision of Achilles tendon was used to expose the broken end of Achilles tendon, and the deep and shallow double Kessler end-to-end suture+layer-by-layer combing suture were used to suture the Achilles tendon, and the skin incision was sutured by “V-Y”advancement. The postoperative complications were observed; the healing of Achilles tendon was observed by ultrasonography; at last follow-up, Arner Lindholm criteria was used to evaluate ankle function.ResultsThe 32 patients were followed up 8-24 months, with an average of 12 months. The incision healed by first intention, without the complications of skin necrosis, nonunion, delayed healing, and infection, scar hyperplasia or ulcer, and symptom of peroneal nerve injury. No Achilles tendon rupture and deep infection occurred during the follow-up period. The ultrasonography examination showed that the Achilles tendon was healing. At last follow-up, according to Amer Lindholm evaluation standard, the results of ankle function was excellent in 26 cases and good in 6 cases.ConclusionThe treatment of acute closed Achilles tendon rupture with a posterior median longitudinal W-shaped incision combined with deep and shallow double Kessler end-to-end suture+layer-by-layer combing suture is effective, which can fully exposed the incision, the quality of Achilles tendon anastomosis is reliable, and it can effectively avoid wound complications and iatrogenic injury of gastrocnemius nerve.
Objective To assess the effectiveness of a novel minimally invasive Achilles tendon suture instrument in the treatment of fresh closed Achilles tendon rupture. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 150 patients who underwent surgical intervention for fresh closed Achilles tendon rupture. Eighty patients were treated with the novel minimally invasive Achilles tendon suture instrument (minimally invasive group) and 70 patients with traditional open surgery (traditional group). The two groups were comparable in terms of gender, age, injured side, cause of injury, the interval between injury and operation, and the distance from the fracture end to the calcaneal tuberosity (P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, hospital stays, hospitalization expenses, and complications were recorded and compared. At 1 year after operation, the ankle joint function was evaluated by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score. Results The minimally invasive group demonstrated significantly shorter operation time, smaller incision length, and lower intraoperative blood loss when compared with the traditional group (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in terms of hospital stays and hospitalization expenses between the two groups (P>0.05). All patients were followed up 12-24 months after operation (mean, 15.5 months). In the traditional group, 6 cases of incision necrosis and 7 cases of Achilles tendon adhesion occurred, while in the minimally invasive group, all incisions healed at first intention and no Achilles tendon adhesion occurred. The differences in the incidences of the two complications between the two groups were significant (P<0.05). At 1 year after operation, the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score in the minimally invasive group was superior to that of the traditional group (P<0.05). Conclusion In comparison with traditional open surgery, the use of self-designed novel minimally invasive Achilles tendon suture instrument proves to be an ideal technique for treating fresh closed Achilles tendon ruptures. This approach offers the benefits of smaller incisions, fewer complications, and better postoperative functional recovery, without increasing hospital costs.
Objective To compare the effectiveness of Achillon Achilles tendon suture guide combined with circuit suture under the perineural channel and Krachow suture with posterolateral incision of Achilles tendon in the treatment of Kuwada type Ⅱ acute closed Achilles tendon rupture. Methods The clinical data of 38 patients with Kuwada type Ⅱ acute closed Achilles tendon rupture who met the selection criteria between January 2020 and December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Krachow suture via posterolateral incision was used in 24 cases (traditional group), and Achillon Achilles tendon suture guide combined with circuit suture via perineural channel was used in 14 cases (minimally invasive group). There was no significant difference in baseline data such as age, gender, body mass index, cause of injury, time from injury to operation, characteristics of Achilles tendon injury (broken end distance, stump length), and preoperative Achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot function score between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time, incision length, hospital stay, and complications (re-tear, incision infection, sural nerve irritation, deep venous thrombosis) were recorded. ATRS score and AOFAS ankle and hindfoot function score were used to evaluate the effectiveness before operation and at 3 and 6 months after operation. Results All patients successfully completed the operation. The operation time, incision length, and hospital stay in the minimally invasive group were significantly shorter than those in the traditional group (P<0.05). Patients in both groups were followed up 8-16 months, with an average of 12.7 months. There was no sural nerve injury or re-tear of Achilles tendon in both groups. In the traditional group, 1 case had incision infection,1 case had suture rejection, and 1 case had intermuscular venous thrombosis; in the minimally invasive group, no incision healing complication, suture knot discomfort, or thrombosis occurred. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups (P=0.283). The ATRS score and AOFAS ankle and hindfoot function score of the two groups were improved after operation, but there was no significant difference (P>0.05). Except that there was no significant difference in AOFAS ankle and hindfoot function scores between the two groups at 6 months after operation (P>0.05), the ATRS scores and AOFAS ankle and hindfoot function scores in the minimally invasive group were significantly better than those in the traditional group at other time points (P<0.05).Conclusion The treatment of Kuwada type Ⅱ acute closed Achilles tendon rupture with Achillon Achilles tendon suture guide combined with circuit suture via the perineural channel has similar ankle function comparable to traditional operation, but the incision is smaller and the incidenc of incision infection is lower, which is beneficial for patients to recover early ankle function.