Conservative treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures may lead to re-rupture. Open surgical repair entails a risk of skin necrosis or infection. Several percutaneous techniques have been used, like Tenolig® or Achillon®, but these techniques are costly and may be marred by wound healing problems. Ma and Griffith described a technique for percutaneous repair witch left the suture and the knot under the skin, thus reducing the risk for infection. From January 2001 to September 2006, we used this percutaneous treatment for 60 acute ruptures of Achille tendon. The repair was made under local anaesthesia, using a single or double absorbable suture. Postoperative care was 3 weeks immobilisation in a cast in equinus position with no weight bearing, followed by another 3 weeks in a cast with the ankle at 90° with progressive weight bearing.Introduction
Material and Methods
