title: Suture anchor tenodesis in repair of distal Achilles tendon injuries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Distal Achilles tendon avulsions are in the form of either bony and nonbony avulsion of Achilles tendon from its calcaneal insertion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four patients with distal Achilles tendon avulsions or ruptures which were treated with tendon to bone repair using suture anchors are presented here. Operated leg was immobilized in above-knee cast for 4 weeks while the patient walked non-weight-bearing. Then, cast was changed to below knee, and full weight-bearing was allowed. Patients underwent gait analysis minimum at first postoperative year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean American Orthopedics Foot Ankle Society ankle/hindfoot score of patients at last visit was 88.75 (range 85-100), and Achilles tendon total rupture score was 77.75 (range 58-87). Mean passive dorsiflexion of injured ankles (14° ± 5°) was lower than uninjured ankles (23° ± 9°). All the kinematic parameters of gait analysis were comparable to the uninjured side. Maximum plantar flexion power of injured ankle was 1.40 W/kg, and this was significantly lower than the contralateral side value 2.38 W/kg; (P = 0.0143).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were no visually altered gait or problems in daily life. Suture anchor tenodesis technique of distal Achilles tendon avulsions was successful in achieving durable osteotendinous repairs.
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul University, İstanbul, Turkey, kilicoglu@istanbul.edu.tr.
authors: Onder
authors: O
authors: Kiliçoğlu
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Türker
authors: Fatih
authors: F
authors: Yildız
authors: Ekin
authors: E
authors: Akalan
authors: Yener
authors: Y
authors: Temelli
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle / Q000601:surgery; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D053441:Suture Anchors; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D053656:Tenodesis / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult