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Chronic rupture of tendo Achillis

LONG-TERM RESULTS OF OPERATIVE MANAGEMENT USING POLYESTER TAPE

University Hospital of North Durham, Durham Road, Durham DH1 5TW, UK.

G. K. Sefton, FRCS, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Harrogate District Hospital, Lancaster Park Road, Harrogate HG2 7SX, UK.

Correspondence should be sent to Mr A. G. Jennings.

We report the long-term results of the surgical treatment of chronic rupture of tendo Achillis using polyester tape. This requires minimal postoperative splintage and allows early mobilisation and a prompt return to work and sport. We reviewed 16 patients (10 women and 6 men) at a mean period of three years after surgery. The median time from injury to operation was 16.8 months (3.9 months to 13 years), and the median age of the patients was 52 years (27 to 78). The median time to full weight-bearing was 40 days and the median time for return to sport was 18 weeks (5.4 to 32). One patient required further surgery and one had numbness along the distribution of the sural nerve. After surgery only two patients had increased dorsiflexion of the ankle compared with the uninjured side. There were no cases of rerupture. We recommend this technique for the treatment of chronic rupture of tendo Achillis.