A Two-year Follow-up Study of Accelerated Functional Rehabilitation Combined with Percutaneous Minimally Invasive Suture in the Treatment of Acute Closed Achilles Tendon Rupture

Abstract

To explore the effect of fast functional rehabilitation combined with percutaneous minimally invasive suture treatment for acute closed Achilles tendon rupture (ACATR) through 2-year follow-up study.We collected 32 patients with acute closed Achilles tendon rupture operated in our hospital, they were divided into early accelerated functional rehabilitation group(EAFR) and traditional rehabilitation group(TR). AOFAS Ankle Hindfoot Scale (AOFAS), Achilles tendon Total Rupture Score (ATRs) and the Muscle Strength recovery Rate (MSR) were used as follow-up evaluation. No incision-related complications or Achilles tendon rupture re-occurrence in both two groups. ATRS scores and AOFAS scores of the EAFR group were higher than those of the TR group in the 6th and 12th month after surgery, respectively (P<0.05), while no statistical significance in the 24th month when compared the two groups (P>0.05). In the EAFR group, the scores attained in the 12th month were higher when compared with those attained in the 6th month (P<0.05), lower when compared with those assessed in the 24th month (P<0.05). In the TR group, the scores attained in the 24th month were higher than those assessed in the 12th month (P<0.05), no statistical significance between the 6th month and the 12th month after surgery (P>0.05). The rate of muscle strength recovery was higher in the EAFR group in the 12th month after sugery (P<0.05), no statistical significance between the two groups in the 24th month (P>0.05). Percutaneous minimally invasive suture combined with early accelerated functional rehabilitation in treating the ACATR can accelerate the Achilles tendon function recovery without increasing the incidence of complications.