title: Achilles tendon ruptures in elite athletes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The management of Achilles tendon (AT) ruptures in elite athletes can be challenging. We performed a retrospective review of prospectively collected data study to evaluate the results of percutaneous repair of an acute AT rupture in elite athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen elite athletes with prodromal tendinous problems sustained an acute tear of the AT and underwent percutaneous surgical repair. We performed preoperative evaluations the day of surgery, and report the results of postoperative evaluation at a final followup at an average of 72 months from the procedure. Each patient was evaluated for limb dominance, trauma history, duration and type of preoperative symptoms, and postoperative AT Total Rupture Score (ATRS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were able to fully weightbear on the operated limb by the end of the 8th postoperative week. The average time to return to full sport participation was 4.8±0.9 months. Two of the 15 elite athletes on whom we have full data suffered from a superficial infection of the surgical wound.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that percutaneous repair of the AT is a good option for elite athletes, allowing a safe and prompt return to sport activities.
authors.affiliation: Queen Mary University of London, Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Mile End Hospital, 275 Bancroft Road, London, E1 4DG, United Kingdom. n.maffulli@qmul.ac.uk
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maffulli
authors.forename: Umile Giuseppe
authors.initials: UG
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Gayle D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Maffulli
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khanna
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Denaro
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012421:Rupture; D013536:Suture Techniques; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000150:complications