Fibrin sealant in the treatment of acute ruptures of the Achilles tendon: long-term results.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to point out the long-term results of fibrin sealant in the treatment of acute ruptures of the Achilles tendon.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Between January 1998 and December 2007, 42 patients (42 males; mean age 37.8 years; range 27 to 56 years) admitted to our clinic for acute ruptures of the Achilles tendon were treated with a fibrin sealant. The average time to surgery from injury was 2.0 (range 1 to 4) days. The patients were divided into two groups; in the first 32 patients fibrin sealant was used which was heated for preparation. In the second group of 10 patients we used fibrin sealant which did not require heating for preparation.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 51.5 (range 24 to 92) months. The Thermann scoring system was used to evaluate the patients postoperatively in both the early and the final follow-ups. We found that the Thermann scores of some patients slightly decreased in the advanced age group when compared to younger patients long-term, but the overall result remained unchanged by time. Only one patient needed to be re-operated for a re-rupture resulting from resumption of daily work and sports activities.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of acute Achilles tendon ruptures with fibrin sealant can be one of the first choices selected because of its lower complication rate and equal results when compared to other treatment options.