Surgical treatment of partial Achilles tendon rupture

Abstract

Fifty-four patients with a total of 58 partial ruptures of the Achilles tendon were treated surgically. The postoperative observation time ranged from 8 months to 7 years. Forty-six patients indicated that they were pleased with the results, 8 were satisfied, and 3 were unsatisfied (one died during the interim). Thirty-seven of the 44 patients who had been engaged in competitive sports preoperatively were able to return suc cessfully to the activity. We recommend surgical treatment if conservative treatment for presumed tendinitis is not success ful. The operative procedure may encourage revascularization to the Achilles tendon and innervation after surgical excision of the pathologic and degenerated tissue.