title: Severe Functional Debilitations After Complications Associated With Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture With 9 Years of Follow-Up.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the long-term effect of deep infection, sural nerve injury, and repeat rupture in the treatment of acute Achilles tendon rupture. A total of 324 patients had made a claim to the Danish Patient Insurance Association from 1992 to 2010 for a complication after acute Achilles tendon rupture. Of the 324 patients, 119 (36.7%) (77 [64.7%] males and 42 [35.3%] females) returned the Achilles tendon total rupture score and the 36-item short-form survey questionnaires. Patients with deep infection (n = 10), sural nerve injury (n = 10), and repeat rupture (n = 16) participated in a follow-up investigation. The mean follow-up period was 8.9 (range 3 to 21) years. The mean Achilles tendon total rupture score was 49 ± 27. The summary scores of the physical component and mental components scales of the 36-item Short Form Survey were 43 ± 11 and 52 ± 11, respectively. No significant differences were found among the subpopulations with deep infection, injury to the sural nerve, or repeat rupture. The physical evaluation investigating tendon length and heel rise work revealed a statistically significant difference between the affected and unaffected limb after repeat rupture (p < .01) but not after injury to the sural nerve (p > .05) or deep infection (p > .05). In conclusion, patients with from a complication after acute Achilles tendon rupture had a remarkable reduction of the Achilles tendon total rupture score and physical component scale score at mean follow-up point of 9 years. Patients with repeat rupture had a significant elongation of the tendon and reduction of strength in the affected limb.
authors.affiliation: Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Clinical Orthopaedic Research Hvidovre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark. Electronic address: kbarfod@dadlnet.dk.
authors.forename: Kristoffer Weisskirchner
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Barfod
authors.affiliation: Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Clinical Orthopaedic Research Hvidovre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.
authors.forename: Thor Magnus
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Sveen
authors.affiliation: Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Clinical Orthopaedic Research Hvidovre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganestam
authors.affiliation: Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lars Bo
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Ebskov
authors.affiliation: Professor and Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Clinical Orthopaedic Research Hvidovre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Troelsen
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012421:Rupture; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000293:injuries; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Achilles tendon rupture; complication; infection; repeat rupture; sural nerve lesion