Favorable Outcome of Percutaneous Repair of Achilles Tendon Ruptures in the Elderly

Abstract

Percutaneous repair of Achilles tendon (AT) ruptures reportedly reduces the risk of rerupture compared to nonoperative treatment and reduces the risk of wound infection compared to open surgery. We retrospectively reviewed the postoperative Achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS), and the maximum calf circumference in 35 patients over 65 years of age who sustained an acute tear of the AT and underwent percutaneous repair of the AT. There were 26 men and nine women with a mean age at operation of 73.4 +/- 8.7 years (range, 65-86 years). Of the 35 recruited patients, we report on 27 patients for whom we have a full data set. The minimum followup was 49 months (mean, 88 months; range, 49-110 months). The ATRS had a postoperative average rating of 69.4 +/- 14 (range, 56-93). All patients were able to bear weight fully on the affected limb by the eighth postoperative week. The data suggest that percutaneous repair of the AT is a suitable option for patients older than 65, producing similar outcomes when compared to percutaneous repair in younger patients of previous reports. Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.