RESUMEN
Objective To discuss the methods and evaluate the effects of initial muscle-enclosing protection of large segment of exposed Achilles tendon and second stage repair of Achilles tendon rupture complicated with cuta-neous defect.Methods Among patients treated between August 2005 to April 2014 in our hospital,there were 32 patients,who were diagnosed with Achilles tendon rupture complicated with cutaneous defect.Of the 32 patients, there are 21 male and 11 female.Their ages range from 23 to 69,with an average age of 46.2 ±3.5.In all the patients described above,there are soft tissue contusion injuries and cutaneous defects on their posterior lower legs near the ankles,with the area of skin defects ranging from 3cm ×4cm to 5 ×12cm,and the Achilles tendons were ruptured, extracted,dissociated and completely uncovered.All patients were initially treated with triceps surae muscle-enclosing method to put aside and protect the large segment of exposed Achilles tendon.Later,the ruptured Achilles tendons were repaired,together with the transfer of skin flap to repair skin defects,at the second stage.The therapeutic effects were evaluated during postoperative follow-up periods.Results The mean follow-up period was 18 months,ranged from 11 to 32 months.According to the therapeutic effect evaluation standard of Arner-Lindholm,there were Excellent results in 22 patients,Good in 7 cases and Poor in 3 cases,with a combined excellent/good rate of 90.62%.Conclusion Initial muscle-enclosing protection of large segment of exposed Achilles tendon and second stage repair of Achilles tendon rupture complicated with cutaneous defect is advantageous to the function of patients with rapid recovery.