ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous minimally invasive anchorage in the treatment of acute closed rupture of Achilles tendon. Methods A retrospective casecontrol study was conducted on the clinical data of 32 patients (16 cases on the left side and 16 cases on the right side) with acute closed Achilles tendon rupture treated from January 2015 to January 2017. There were 27 males and five females, aged 24-67 years (mean, 40.8 years). The patients were divided into treatment group which adopted percutaneous minimally invasive combined with anchor suture and control group which used simple minimally invasive suture, with 16 cases in each group. The operation time, hospitalization time, sural nerve injury, single foot heel raise at 3 months and 6 months, difference of calf circumference on the rupture surface between the affected side and healthy side at 6 months, ankle back foot score scale (AOFAS), and infection at 6 months were recorded. Results All patients were followed up for average 8.9 months (range, 6-12 months). In treatment group, the operation time was (35.75 ±3.10) minutes and hospitalization time was (8.38±1.62) days. The AOFAS score was(92.12 ±5.86)points. The result of single foot heel raise was positive in one case at 3 months and in 0 case at 6 months. The difference of calf circumference on the rupture surface between the affected side and healthy side at 6 months was (2.23 ±0.97)cm. In the control group, the operation time was (33.43± 3.89)minutes and hospitalization time was (8.50±1.75)days. The AOFAS score was (91.00 ±7.15) points at 6 months. The result of single foot heel raise was positive in eight cases at 3 months and in 0 case at 6 months. The difference of calf circumference on the rupture surface between the affected side and healthy side at 6 months was (1.64 ±2.34) cm. There were no significant differences between the two groups in operation time, hospitalization time, the AOFAS score at 6 months, and the results of single foot heel raise at 6 months(P ＞0.05). Treatment group had better results than control group in terms of the difference of calf circumference on the rupture surface between the affected side and healthy side at 6 months as well as the result of single foot heel raise at 3 months (P ＜ 0.05). No infection and sural nerve injury were found in either group. Conclusion The repair of Achilles tendon rupture by percutaneous minimally invasive anchor technique can help patients achieve heel raise early, obtain better muscle capacity, and return to work earlier.