Sponge forceps assisted threading with Speedbridge technique for the treatment of acute closed Achilles tendon rupture / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the outcome of sponge forceps assisted threading with Speedbridge technique for the treatment of acute closed Achilles tendon rupture.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted on 20 patients with acute closed Achilles tendon rupture treated in Zhengzhou Orthopedic Hospital from December 2019 to December 2021. There were 18 males and 2 females, with age range of 24-43 years [(29.5±7.6)years]. All patients were with unilateral injury, involving the left side in 13 patients and right side in 7. Examinations revealed a palpable defect in the Achilles tendon and positive Thompson test. A longitudinal incision was made at the medial edge of the ruptured tendon. Three nonabsorbable sutures were passed through the proximal stump with sponge forceps, bypassed the rupture site and fixed directly into the calcaneal bone. The disrupted tendon ends were aligned by the tendon-bundle technique using 4-0 absorbable sutures. The operation time and incision length were documented. The ankle joint range of motion (dorsiflexion/plantar flexion), American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score and Achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS) in the affected and healthy side were compared at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. The wound healing and complications were observed.Results:All patients were followed up for 12-16 months [(13.2±2.5)months]. The operation time was 40-66 minutes [(52.0±10.3)minutes], with the incision length of 3-4 cm [(3.3±0.7)cm]. In the affected side at 3 and 6 months postoperatively, the ankle joint dorsiflexion [(5.6±1.5)°, (10.5±0.2)°] and plantar flexion [(28.4±3.2)°, (33.5±1.5)°] showed statistically significant difference compared with the healthy side (all P<0.05). The ankle joint dorsiflexion [(13.9±0.7)°] and plantar flexion [(38.3±4.4)°] in the affected side were not statistically different from that of the healthy side at 12 months postoperatively (all P>0.05). The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was (58.3±5.4)points, (84.9±7.1)points and (91.8±6.3)points at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively, showing a gradual rise (all P<0.05). The ATRS was (60.5±4.9)points, (85.5±9.0)points and (93.1±5.7)points at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively, showing a gradual rise (all P<0.05). All incisions were healed primarily. No patients had wound infection, nerve injury or re-rupture. Pain at the anchor insertion site occurred in 2 patients at 1 month after operation and relieved after active functional rehabilitation at 4 months after operation. Transient pain at the Achilles tendon insertion occurred in 1 patient at 6 months after operation, and relieved after 2 weeks of oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs treatment. Conclusion:For acute closed Achilles tendon rupture, sponge forceps assisted threading with Speedbridge technique can attain short operation time, small incision and good functional recovery, with few complications.