A prospective clinical controlled study of minimally invasive-locking block modified Krackow technique for repairing achilles tendon rupture / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of minimally invasive-locking block modified Krackow (MI-LBMK) and open giftbox technique in the treatment of Achilles tendon rupture.Methods:Fifty-six patients with Achilles tendon rupture from January 2016 to December 2018 were collected, including 54 males and 2 females, aged 40.7±9.4 years (range 26 to 65 years). The MI group (30 patients) used two minimally invasive incisions without exposing the rupture site, and the LBMK technique was used to repair the Achilles tendon. The open group (26 patients) used a posteromedial longitudinal incision and the giftbox technique was used to repair the rupture tendon. The Achilles tendon was repaired with 6-strand sutures in both groups. Early rehabilitation programs were adopted for postoperative rehabilitation, and regular follow-up (6 weeks, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after operation) was performed to record the Achilles tendon resting angle (ATRA), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot score (AOFAS), Achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS). The rupture gap and cross-sectional area (CSA) were measured by MRI at 6 weeks and 3 months after surgery.Results:A total of 30 patients in the MI group and 26 in the open group were enrolled. The differences between the two groups in age, body mass index, interval from injury to operation, and tendon rupture site were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). All patients were followed up to 24 months after surgery. There were no wound complications in MI group, and 2 cases of superficial infection and 1 case of wound skin necrosis occurred in open group. There was no re-rupture in both groups. The relative ATRA of MI group was -6.32°±0.99°, -3.90°±1.05°, -2.38°±0.84°, -0.25°±1.37° at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after operation, respectively. The relative ATRA of open group was -7.88°±3.71°, -6.16°±1.10°, -4.53°±0.95°, -3.01°±0.95° at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after operation, respectively. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The ATRS of minimally invasive group at 6 months and 12 months were 72.70±7.41 and 92.97±3.35 respectively, and the ATRS of open group at 6 months and 12 months were 68.08±6.64 and 90.85±4.27 respectively, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The AOFAS of minimally invasive group at 6 months and 12 months were 88.60±2.76 and 93.83±1.98 respectively, and the AOFAS of open group at 6 months and 12 months were 85.77±3.20 and 92.08±2.64 respectively, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The difference in the gap between the tendon rupture ends measured by MRI sagittal plane T2WI between the two groups was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). The cross-sectional area of Achilles tendon in the MI group was higher than that of the open group at 12 weeks ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The MI-LBMK technique may protect the peritendon tissue and has fewer complications, and can enable the patient to return to daily life faster, with lower postoperative Achilles tendon elongation and better recovery of Achilles tendon function.