title: Percutaneous versus open tendo achillis repair.
abstract: A retrospective analysis was conducted comparing open and percutaneous repair of ruptured Achilles tendon, over a 14-year period. One hundred and eight patients were identified; 70 underwent traditional open repair and 38 had a modified Ma & Griffith repair. The mean operating time with percutaneous repair was 28.5 minutes compared to 45.9 in the open group (p = <.0001). Comparable results were obtained in a subjective analysis of range of movement, stiffness, and power in both groups at time of discharge from clinic. In the open group there were four cases of rerupture (5.7%), four deep infections (4.7%), two palpable suture knots (2.9%), and one sural nerve lesion (1.4%). Complications with percutaneous repair included one rerupture (2.6%), five palpable suture knots (13.2%), four transient sural nerve lesions (10.5%), and no wound infections. There was no statistical significance between the two groups. The authors advocate percutaneous repair, in experienced hands, as a suitable alternative to traditional open techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Basildon University Hospital, Nethermayne, Basildon, Essex SS16 5NL, United Kingdom. janupuran@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Amyn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haji
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahai
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Symes
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Vyas
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012421:Rupture; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery