OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect of a new bundle-to-bundle suturing method for acute Achilles tendon rupture.

METHODSFrom April 2013 to January 2015, 15 patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture were treated with a new bundle-to-bundle suturing method including 12 males and 3 females with an average age of 37.5 years old ranging from 27 to 56 years old. All of them were immobilized by cast for 6 weeks on the underlying limbs, and were educated for a rehabilitation training during the follow-up.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 9 to 17.5 months with an average of 13.5 months. According to the American Ankle Surgery Association (AOFAS), ankle and foot score was 93.3±3.5 at 6 months after operation. All patients got incomplete weight-bearing at 1.6 months on average after the operation, and back to primary work position 4.7 months later on average. All the wounds got primary healing. No incisional infection, necrosis of incisional marginal necrosis, rupture of the Achilles tendon, and gastrocnemius injury occurred.

CONCLUSIONSThe surgical treatment of acute Achilles tendon rupture with bundle-to-bundle suturing method has advantages of mini-invasion, a low rate of incision problems and quick function recovery, and was valuable spread in clinic.