OBJECTIVE

To compare the effectiveness of Achillon Achilles tendon suture guide combined with circuit suture under the perineural channel and Krachow suture with posterolateral incision of Achilles tendon in the treatment of Kuwada type Ⅱ acute closed Achilles tendon rupture.

METHODS

The clinical data of 38 patients with Kuwada type Ⅱ acute closed Achilles tendon rupture who met the selection criteria between January 2020 and December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Krachow suture via posterolateral incision was used in 24 cases (traditional group), and Achillon Achilles tendon suture guide combined with circuit suture via perineural channel was used in 14 cases (minimally invasive group). There was no significant difference in baseline data such as age, gender, body mass index, cause of injury, time from injury to operation, characteristics of Achilles tendon injury (broken end distance, stump length), and preoperative Achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot function score between the two groups ( >0.05). The operation time, incision length, hospital stay, and complications (re-tear, incision infection, sural nerve irritation, deep venous thrombosis) were recorded. ATRS score and AOFAS ankle and hindfoot function score were used to evaluate the effectiveness before operation and at 3 and 6 months after operation.

RESULTS

All patients successfully completed the operation. The operation time, incision length, and hospital stay in the minimally invasive group were significantly shorter than those in the traditional group ( <0.05). Patients in both groups were followed up 8-16 months, with an average of 12.7 months. There was no sural nerve injury or re-tear of Achilles tendon in both groups. In the traditional group, 1 case had incision infection,1 case had suture rejection, and 1 case had intermuscular venous thrombosis; in the minimally invasive group, no incision healing complication, suture knot discomfort, or thrombosis occurred. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups ( =0.283). The ATRS score and AOFAS ankle and hindfoot function score of the two groups were improved after operation, but there was no significant difference ( >0.05). Except that there was no significant difference in AOFAS ankle and hindfoot function scores between the two groups at 6 months after operation ( >0.05), the ATRS scores and AOFAS ankle and hindfoot function scores in the minimally invasive group were significantly better than those in the traditional group at other time points ( <0.05).

CONCLUSION

The treatment of Kuwada type Ⅱ acute closed Achilles tendon rupture with Achillon Achilles tendon suture guide combined with circuit suture via the perineural channel has similar ankle function comparable to traditional operation, but the incision is smaller and the incidenc of incision infection is lower, which is beneficial for patients to recover early ankle function.