[Complications in repairing acute closed Achilles tendon rupture with micro-incision percutaneous Achilles tendon suture system].

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the causes, management and prevention of complications after micro-incision percutaneous repair of acute Achilles tendon rupture.

METHODS

A retrospective study indentyfied 279 patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture who underwent a mini-invasive procedure using the micro-incision percutaneous Achilles tendon suture system(MIPAS) from August 2008 to November 2019, including 269 males and 10 female;96 cases on the right side and 183 cases on the left side;aged from 18 to 64 years old with an average of (36.9±11.4 )years old. Surgery was performed 0.5 to 7 days with an average of(2.7±0.9 )days after injury. The incision-related complications, re-rupture, sural nerve injury, deep vein thrombosis, Achilles tendon adhesion, local pain, and ankle stiffness within 18 months after surgery were recorded, as well as the corresponding management and outcome, the causes and prevention measures were analyzed.

RESULTS

No superficial or deep infection was found in all patients, symptomatic Achilles tendon adhesion and ankle stiffness were not observed, delayed suture foreign-body reactions occurred in 2 cases (0.7%), re-rupture in 5 cases (1.8%), sural nerve injury in 3 cases (1.1%), 21 cases(7.5%) with skin invagination at puncture site, 2 cases (0.7%) with symptomatic vein thrombosis, and 45 cases (16.1%) of transient posterior medial malleolus pain. After individualized treatment, the function was good. American Orthopeadic Foot & Ankle Sciety(AOFAS) score was 93 to 100 with an average of(98.9±5.4) scores.

CONCLUSION

Despite the occurrence of unique complications with MIPAS, it shows low functionally-related complications rates, such as incision-related complications, re-rupture, sural nerve injury, deep vein thrombosis and ankle stiffness.