Novel surgical technique and early kinesiotherapy for acute Achilles tendon rupture.

BACKGROUND

This prospective study was performed to investigate the contribution of early kinesiotherapy, the active exercise and movement of the ankle and knee joints, following a novel surgical technique for reconstruction of the acutely ruptured Achilles tendon and the underlying mechanisms involved.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

One hundred and seven patients with an acute Achilles tendon rupture received postoperative early kinesiotherapy treatment following the novel ``Pa-bone'' surgical technique. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Achilles tendon rupture score, a score for measuring outcomes related to symptoms and physical activity, and bilateral ultrasonographic examination of the Achilles tendon.

RESULTS

Range-of-motion recovery equal to the intact side averaged 7~weeks. Double-legged heel rises and sustained single-leg heel rise exercises were possible at an average of 1~week and 60± 2 days, respectively. All patients could perform single-leg heel rise of the injured foot for 60± 23 seconds at an average of 12 weeks. No rerupture was observed. In addition, ultrasonographic examination revealed that the cross-sectional areas of the ruptured tendon were significantly larger than those of the healthy side. Overall reconstruction of the Achilles tendon was obtained for most of the patients.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative early kinesiotherapy treatment following Pa-bone surgical technique resulted in excellent clinical outcomes and contributed to the overall reconstruction of the Achilles tendon.