Calf muscle atrophy and muscle function after non-operative vs operative treatment of achilles tendon ruptures.

Fifteen operatively and eight non-operatively treated subcutaneous achilles tendon ruptures were randomly selected from 120 surgically and 35 non-surgically treated patients. Their calf muscle function was studied three to five years after treatment. Non-operatively treated patients were found to have a significantly impaired dynamic muscle function of the calf muscles when tested in a specially constructed heel-raise test device. Operatively treated patients did not show any significant impairment of their muscle function. Measurement of muscle area with CT-scanning showed a significant reduction of the calf muscle in the non-operatively treated patient while no such difference could be found in the operatively treated patients. Isokinetic muscle torque did not differ in the two groups of patients, thus Cybex-measurements do not seem to be a discriminating method in studying muscle function after achilles ruptures. On the basis of our findings we recommend that all athletes with achilles tendon ruptures be treated surgically. In non-athletes and older patients non-operative treatment might be considered.