Operative versus nonoperative treatment of Achilles tendon rupture

Abstract

One hundred eleven patients with acute rupture of the Achilles tendon were included in a prospective trial and randomly assigned to groups for operative (56 patients) or nonoperative (55 patients) treatment. All of the patients were followed with clinic evalua tions at 4 months and 1 year after the rupture. The major complications in the operative treatment group were three reruptures and two deep infections as com pared with seven reruptures, one second rerupture, and one extreme residual lengthening of the tendon in the nonoperative group. There were fewer minor com plications in the nonoperative group than in the opera tive group. The operatively treated patients had a significantly higher rate of resuming sports activities at the same level, a lesser degree of calf atrophy, better ankle movement, and fewer complaints 1 year after the ac cident. The conclusion we reached through this randomized prospective study is that operative treatment of rup tured Achilles tendons is preferable, but nonoperative treatment is an acceptable alternative.