Clinical assessment is sufficient to allow outcome evaluation following surgical management of Achilles tendon ruptures.
METHODS
cross-sectional study in otherwise healthy athletic adults with a unilateral Achilles tendon rupture.


OBJECTIVE
define the relationships of active range of motion, calf circumference or number of heel raises to a full set of isokinetic parameters.


BACKGROUND
Achilles tendon ruptures commonly occur during sports and create a considerable amount of morbidity. The benefits of different treatments are difficult to determine. Complex and expensive isokinetic testing is often required. If a simple force measurement could replace this testing, large clinical trials would be more easily feasible.


METHODS
74 patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture and surgical treatment were evaluated retrospectively. Active range of motion (ROM), ratio of ROM, number of heel raises, ratio of heel raises, calf circumference and isokintetic measurements were recorded. Regression using a Bayesian elastic net showed the most important correlations.


RESULTS
Active range of motion showed a significant correlation to peak torque angle at flexion and extension as well as increased sports activity. There was a negative correlation to percutaneous therapy. Active Heel raise showed a positive correlation to peak torque at dorsal extension and increased sports activity as well as a negative correlation to high postoperative pain, where as calf circumference was positive correlated to peak torque at dorsal extension and body height as well as negative correlated to female gender.


CONCLUSIONS
device independent measures, like range of Motion, and amount of Heel raise, are an excellent tool providing similar information compared to isokinetic testing and could be used to evaluate clinical outcome after Achilles tendon rupture.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Basel, Switzerland.
Atanas
A
Todorov
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Basel, Switzerland.
Frederic
F
Schaub
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Basel, Switzerland.
Fabian
F
Blanke
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Basel, Switzerland.
Patricia
P
Heisterbach
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Basel, Switzerland.
Franciska
F
Sachser
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Basel, Switzerland.
Andreas
A
Gösele
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Basel, Switzerland.
Martin
M
Majewski
Achilles tendon rupture; outcome evaluation; surgical treatment