OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effect of a new surgical approaches for repairing the acute Achilles tendon rupture.

METHODSFrom January 2009 to January 2014, 21 patients with Achilles tendon rupture were treated by 2 minimally invasive incisions and remaining skin bridge of achilles tendon end including 16 males and 5 females with an average age of 44.3 years old ranging from 21 to 57 years old. Postoperative complications, the range of movement of affected ankle joint, the circumference calf and ankle on both side, time of reture to work and sports activity were observed and recorded. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was used to evaluate the functional recovery.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 6 to 36 months with an average of 13.5 months. No skin necrosis, wound infection, deep vein thrombosis,re-rupture and sensory disturbance with the ankle or foot in the sural nerve distribution were found. At 1 year after operation, there was no significant difference in the range of movement between affected foot (55.4 ± 6.5)° and unaffected foot (56.3 ± 3.7)° (t = 0.872, P = 0.325). There was significant difference in AOFAS between preoperative (65.1 ± 6.9) and postoperative (94.3 ± 5.5) (t = 7.672, P = 0.013). All patients returned to work and study at an average of 10 weeks (ranged from 6 to 15 weeks) and 15 patients returned to normal sports activities at 21 weeks (ranged from 18 to 24 weeks). Calf and ankle circumferences decreased by 0.45 cm (0.3 to 0.8 cm) and increased by 0.4 cm (0.2 to 0.7 cm), respectively in the injured leg as compared with the contralateral leg.

CONCLUSIONThe simplicity of the technique of minimally invasive incision and skin bridge for acute closed Achilles tendon reconstruction is an effective and reliable method with low complication.