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Early rehabilitation after open repair for patients with a rupture of the Achilles tendon
- Source :
- Injury. 48(7)
- Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Purpose As outdoor activities participation increase, Achilles tendon rupture incidence also tends to increase. There are a number of treatment and rehabilitation options for a ruptured Achilles tendon. However, the optimal rehabilitation protocols are still under debate. The purpose of this study is to determine whether early rehabilitation is more effective than conventional rehabilitation. Methods Medical records of 56 patients who had been treated with open repair after a ruptured Achilles tendon were retrospectively reviewed. 24 patients were treated postoperatively with below knee cast immobilization for four weeks, and they started tolerable weight-bearing rehabilitation at four weeks’ follow-up. The remaining 32 patients were managed postoperatively with short leg splint immobilization for two weeks and started the tolerable weight-bearing at two weeks’ follow-up. We evaluated the patients several times to identify when the single heel raise was possible and measured the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores and Achilles tendon total rupture scores (ATRS) as a functional outcome. Results The single heel raise test was positive in all patients at the last assessment. But there were no statistically significant differences between the groups (p = 0.137). The patients in the Cast group took significantly more time to return to work than did the patients in the Splint group (p = 0.032). And AOFAS scores and ATRS were slightly higher in the Splint group than in the Cast group. There were statistically significant differences (p = 0.042, p = 0.028) between the two groups. Conclusion The early rehabilitation did not lead to greater endurance, but it showed better results in the return to work and the Achilles functional score. Early rehabilitation after open repair for patients with a ruptured Achilles tendon is helpful for functional recovery. Type of study / Level of evidence: Therapeutic, Level III.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Heel
Adolescent
medicine.medical_treatment
Achilles Tendon
Weight-Bearing
03 medical and health sciences
Young Adult
0302 clinical medicine
Tendon Injuries
medicine
Humans
Range of Motion, Articular
General Environmental Science
Aged
Retrospective Studies
Postoperative Care
Rupture
030222 orthopedics
Achilles tendon
Rehabilitation
business.industry
030229 sport sciences
Recovery of Function
Middle Aged
Surgery
Splints
Casts, Surgical
medicine.anatomical_structure
Treatment Outcome
Orthopedic surgery
Physical therapy
General Earth and Planetary Sciences
Female
Achilles tendon rupture
medicine.symptom
Ankle
Splint (medicine)
business
Follow-Up Studies
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 18790267
- Volume :
- 48
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Injury
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....26ee1b8ef0d8351c74c3873bd2f81beb