| A
prospective randomized study was conducted in order to compare augmentation
technique versus nonaugmentation technique, followed by early functional
postoperative treatment, for operative repair of Achilles tendon ruptures.
Twenty-four consecutive patients were assigned to two groups. Group
I included 12 patients treated with Lindholm augmentation technique,
whereas group II included 12 patients treated with modified Kessler
end-to-end repair. Thereafter, these patients had postoperative management
with a below-knee-cast for three weeks. The physioteraphy was initiated
immediately after the cast was removed. Full weight bearing was allowed
after five weeks postoperatively in the both groups. Two patients
had reruptures in group II, whereas group I had prolonged operative
time significantly. The patients with reruptures underwent reoperations
and at the most final follow-up, it was observed that they could not
resume to sporting activities. The other objective and subjective
results were similar between two groups. Because of quite high rerupture
rate in the group of patients treated with nonaugmentation technique,
we favor functional postoperative treatment with early ankle movement
in the patients treated with augmentation technique for the management
of acute rupture of the Achilles tendon.
KEY
WORDS: Achilles tendon, surgical procedure, early ambulation.
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