Epidemiology and complications of 18,061 achilles tendon rupture repairs in the United States, 2015-2024 (TriNetX).

BACKGROUND

There is a lack of recent, nationally representative reporting of Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) repair epidemiology.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and prevalence of ATR repairs in the US in the last decade and assess medical and orthopedic complications post-ATR repair.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

The TriNetX database was used to identify US patients who experienced an ATR repair from 2015-2024. The primary outcome was incidence proportion (IP), stratified by sex and age. Rates of medical complications (30, 60, 90 days) and orthopedic complications (1, 2 years) were assessed.

RESULTS

18,061 patients had an ATR repair from 2015-2024. In 2024, the IP of ATR repairs was 7.28 (95 % CI 6.99-7.59) per 100,00 patients, significantly increased from 2015. The annual percent change in IP was 12.8 % % per year. Males comprised 65 % of the cohort and consistently had higher IP than females. The mean age was 31 ± 7 years and the highest IP in 2024 was in those aged 30-39. Stratified by age and sex, males aged 25-29 experienced the most ATR repairs overall (60.94 (95 % CI 58.14-63.87) per 100,000 patients), while the peak in female ATR repairs was in females aged 45-49 (23.08 (95 % CI 21.45-24.84) per 100,000 patients). There were relatively low rates of all medical and orthopedic complications assessed.

CONCLUSIONS

ATR repair incidence, which is especially high among young men, is increasing. Low medical and orthopedic complications rates support the safety and good functional outcomes of ATR repair.