title: Repair of fresh open tear of Achilles tendon Tension regulation at the suture line.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lack of the timely mechanical loading of the repaired tendon is detrimental for healing progress. The current knowledge knows the appropriate time for the mechanical loading, but need to find out a suitable tool for this purpose. Therefore we present a technique based on using of an absorbable reinforcement device for tension regulation at the suture line.
  
  
  METHODS
  24 patients with open tear of Achilles tendon were repaired surgically, the repair was reinforced using an absorbable suture and the outcomes were prospectively assessed at 24 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No tendon lengthening or reruptures were reported; patients returned to pre-injury daily activates by fourth month. One patient reported 1cm atrophy of the calf, scar adhesion Grade 1 and ankle dorsiflexion decreased 5°.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Restoration of the continuity and actual length of repaired tendons support use of the absorbable reinforcement device for regulation of the mechanical environment at the suture line.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Department, Sohag Teaching Hospital, General Organization for Teaching Hospitals and Institutes, Nile St., Sohag, Egypt. Elsayedmassoud@Hotmail.com
authors.forename: Elsayed Ibraheem Elsayed
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Massoud
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D055815:Young Adult