Surgery for chronic Achilles tendinopathy yields worse results in nonathletic patients.
OBJECTIVE
To report the outcome of surgery for chronic recalcitrant Achilles tendinopathy in nonathletic and athletic subjects.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
University teaching hospitals.


METHODS
We matched each of the 61 nonathletic patients with a diagnosis of tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon with an athletic patient with tendinopathy of the main body of the Achilles tendon of the same sex and age (+/-2 years). A match was possible for 56 patients (23 males and 33 females). Forty-eight nonathletic subjects and 45 athletic subjects agreed to participate.


METHODS
Open surgery for Achilles tendinopathy.


METHODS
Outcome of surgery, return to sport, complication rate.


RESULTS
Nonathletic patients were shorter and heavier than athletic patients. They had greater body mass index, calf circumference, side-to-side calf circumference differences, and subcutaneous body fat than athletic patients. Of the 48 nonathletic patients, 9 underwent further surgery during the study period, and only 25 reported an excellent or good result. Of the 45 athletic subjects, 4 underwent further surgery during the study period, and 36 reported an excellent or good result. The remaining patients could not return to their normal levels of activity. In all of them, pain significantly interfered with daily activities.


CONCLUSIONS
Nonathletic subjects experience more prolonged recovery, more complications, and a greater risk of further surgery than athletic subjects with recalcitrant Achilles tendinopathy.
Maffulli
Nicola
N
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Keele University School of Medicine, Stoke on Trent, and Department of Orthopaedics, The Royal London Hospital Trust, Whitechapel, London, England. n.maffulli@keele.ac.uk
Testa
Vittorino
V
Capasso
Giovanni
G
Oliva
Francesco
F
Sullo
Alessio
A
Benazzo
Francesco
F
Regine
Renato
R
King
John B
JB
D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D000886:Anthropometry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome