[Percutaneous technique for Achilles tendon repair with the Dresden Instruments].
BACKGROUND
The percutaneous technique for Achilles tendon repair with the Dresden instruments (pDI suture) was developed to minimize the typical problems of percutaneous Achilles tendon sutures.


METHODS
From 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2003, the pDI suture was performed in 61 patients with 62 Achilles tendon ruptures. We reviewed 39 of 47 patients (83%) with 40 ruptured Achilles tendons who had undergone percutaneous repair at a minimal interval of 12 months after the operation.


RESULTS
In this study we observed no sural nerve injuries. The rerupture rate was 2/62 or 3.2%. In one patient (1.6%) a superficial late infection occurred after tendon healing. Using the criteria of Trillat and Mounier-Kuhn, 62% of the results were very good and 30% good. The average AOFAS score was 96 (78-100) points; 78% of the patients assessed the result of treatment as very good and 20% as good.


CONCLUSIONS
The percutaneous suture using the Dresden instruments is a minimally invasive operative treatment of Achilles tendon rupture resulting in nearly all very good and good subjective and clinical results. It combines a low rerupture and infection rate with a minimized risk of sural nerve injury.
Amlang
M H
MH
Klinik für Unfall- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität, Dresden. Michael.Amlang@uniklinikumdresden.de
Christiani
P
P
Heinz
P
P
Zwipp
H
H
D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012421:Rupture; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000293:injuries; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013537:Sutures / Q000009:adverse effects; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome