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Objective:To use an isokinetic test to objectively evaluate the recovery of muscle strength and endurance after treatment of acute Achilles tendon rupture using a tunnel beneath paratenon.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted of the 23 patients who had been treated at Department of Orthopedics, The Forth Medical Center, General Hospital of Chinese PLA by a tunnel beneath paratenon for acute Achilles tendon rupture from January 2017 to January 2018. They were 22 males and one female, aged from 26 to 60 years (average, 35.7 years), with 11 right and 12 left sides involved. Surgery was performed 0.5 to 7.0 days (average, 2.7 days) after injury. Length of incision, skin necrosis, infection, re-rupture, ankle-hindfoot score of American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) and Achilles tendon total rupture scores (ATRS) were followed up for 18 months. Surgical outcomes were objectively evaluated by an isokinetic test to compare the recovery of muscle strength and endurance between the affected and normal sides.Results:Skin necrosis, infection or re-rupture occurred in none of the patients. Incision length averaged 1.4 cm (from 1 to 2 cm), AOFAS 99.1 (from 93 to 100, giving an excellent and good rate of 100%), and ATRS 97.0 (from 88 to 100). Isokinetic evaluation showed that the peak torques of ankle plantar flexion and dorsal extension at 5 test speeds (30°/s, 60°/s, 90°/s, 120°/s and 240°/s) were not significantly different between the affected and normal sides ( P>0.05). In the endurance test, the total work of ankle plantar flexion was (691.2±258.8) J on the normal side and (670.6±304.2) J on the affected side, showing no significant difference between the 2 sides ( P>0.05); the total work of ankle dorsal extension at the normal side was (407.3±119.2) J, significantly larger than that at the affected side [(362.2±117.5) J] ( P=0.001). Conclusion:An isokinetic test can be used to objectively evaluate the recovery of muscle strength and endurance after treatment of acute Achilles tendon rupture using a tunnel beneath paratenon.
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Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of using a tunnel beneath the paratenon to repair chronic Achilles tendon rupture of Myerson type Ⅱ.Methods From August 2008 through January 2018,19 patients with chronic Achilles tendon rupture were treated with a self-designed minimally invasive suture technique at Department of Orthopaedics,The Fourth Medical Center,General Hospital of PLA.They were all male,aged from 25 to 64 years(average,40.4 years).The left side was injured in 12 patients and the right side in 7.The duration from injury to surgery ranged from 28 to 120 days,averaging 60 days.The Achilles tendon defects averaged 3.84 cm.Their clinical diagnoses were confirmed by positive results of clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) scans.After a 2 cm transverse incision was made at the proximal side,the proximal stump beneath the paratenon was adequately released with a periosteum elevator.The proximal stump was sutured by the Bunnell method with an Ethicon-X519 non-absorbable suture under direct vision.After a 1.0-1.5 cm transverse incision was made,percutaneous Bunnell suture was performed at the distal side.The proximal stump was then introduced into the distal incision through the paratenon tunnel.After the affected foot was fully flexed,the 2 stumps were tied closely together and buried under direct vision.Early rehabilitation was encouraged after surgery.The clinical efficacy was assessed according to the ankle-hindfoot scores of American Orthopaedic Foot&Ankle Society(AOFAS) and the Arner-Lindholm evaluation criteria.Results The 19 patients were followed up for 10 months to 9.5 years(average,2.45 years).All the wounds healed at the first stage without any complications related to incision,sural nerve injury or tendon re-rupture.Their AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores averaged 98.4,with 19 excellent cases;according to the Arner-Lindholm criteria,13 cases were excellent and 6 cases good.Both of the evaluation systems yielded a good to excellent rate of 100%.In the 3 patients who underwent isokinetic testing,there was no significant difference between the normal and affected sides in the peak value of flexion or in the total work of fatigue.Conclusion Using a tunnel beneath the paratenon is a good self-designed minimally invasive suture technique for chronic Achilles tendon rupture of Myerson type Ⅱ because it is simple and reliable,and leads to limited tissue damage,adhesion or complications.
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Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of a new minimal incision suture technique in repair of acute close rupture of Achilles tendon.Methods From August 2008 through October 2014,134 patients with acute close rupture of Achilles tendon were treated with a self-designed minimally invasive suture technique at our institution.They were 130 men and 4 women,with an average age of 37.4 years (range,from 18 to 52 years).The left side was injured in 93 patients and the right side in 41.The interval from injury to surgery was 1 to 7 days (average,2.5 days).The tendon rupture was located at 4.5 to 6.3 cm proximal to its insertion in 133 patients,and at 1.2 cm in one.With the ankle held in full plantar flexion,a 1.0 to 1.5 cm transverse incision was made over the palpable defect.Forceps were then used to mobilize the tendon from beneath the paratenon.The safe puncture site was determined by course and distribution of the sural nerve indirectly located by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Ethicon MB66 nonabsorbable suture was passed diagonally through the tendon bulk under epidural puncture needle guidance.The proximal and distal ends of the suture were tied together and buried.The tendon ends were apposed through the transverse incision.Postoperative individual rehabilitation was established based on pathological differentiation for tendon tissue.Results All the patients were followed up for 8 to 48 months (average,19.6 months).All the wounds healed at the first stage.No complications happened related to incision.The nervus suralis was injured in 3 patients;tendon re-rupture occurred in 4 patients,3 of whom received re-operation and one of whom conservative treatment.Their American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores averaged 99.6,giving a good to excellent rate of 100％ (133excellentcasesandonegoodcase).According to the Arner-Lindholm evaluation criteria,ankle function was excellent in 99 cases,good in 34 ones and poor in one,giving a good to excellent rate of 99.3％.Conclusion The new minimal incision suture technique is worthy of promotion in repair of ruptured Achilles tendon,because it is simple and reliable,does not interfere with the blood circulation to the Achilles tendon,prevents such complications as sural nerve injury and recurrent rupture,and leads to little adhesion and quick functional recovery.