OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical effects of turning over rough surface of aponeurosis of gastrocnemius with fascia graft for Achilles tendon rerupture. METHODS: From July 2013 to April 2017, 11 patients with Achilles tendon reruptures were repaired by turning over rough surface of aponeurosis of gastrocnemius with fascia graft, including 10 males and 1 female aged from 25 to 48 years old. The patients were all manifested weakness of plantar flexion strength injured foot, and positive of single heel rise test before operation. Postoperative complications was observed, and AOFAS score at 6 months after operation was applied to evaluate clinical efficacy. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 6 to 11 months. All wound were healed at stage I without skin necrosis, wound infection, deep vein thrombosis and rerupture. The length of tendon defect ranged from 4 to 7 cm, the full weight-bearing time ranged from 8 to 11 weeks. Postoperative AOFAS score at 6 months was for 79 to 100, and 9 patients got excellent results, and 2 good. CONCLUSIONS For patients with recurrent ruptures of Achilles tendon, turning over rough surface of aponeurosis of gastrocnemius with fascia graft has advantages of stable repair, less complications and good recovery of function.
Achilles Tendon ; Adult ; Aponeurosis ; Fascia Lata ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rupture ; Tendon Injuries ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of scar tissue suture at the broken end of Achilles tendon after gastrocnemius aponeurosis release in the treatment of chronic Achilles tendon rupture. METHODS: The clinical data of 17 patients with old achilles tendon rupture treated from January 2017 to December 2019 were analyzed retrospectively, including 15 males and 2 females, aged 26 to 53 years with an average of (35.2±11.6) years old, and the time from injury to operation was 37 to 92 days with an average of (49.3±13.3) days. Myerson's classification included 6 cases of typeⅡ and 11 cases of typeⅢ. The defect of the broken end of Achilles tendon was 2 to 5 cm with an average of(4.1±1.5) cm after partial scar tissue was removed. All patients were treated with gastrocnemius aponeurosis, appropriate excision of scar tissue at the broken end of Achilles tendon and direct suture. The continuity and healing of Achilles tendon were evaluated by color Doppler ultrasound 3 months after operation. The ankle plantar flexor strength was measured by ankle plantar flexor strength tester before operation and 1 year after operation. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle hindfoot score (AOFAS) and Achilles tendon rupture score were used before operation and 1 year after operation Achilles tendon total fracture score (ATRS) was used to evaluate the clinical rehabilitation of Achilles tendon rupture. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 12 to 18 months with an average of(13.6±1.8) months. The surgical incision healed in stageⅠ. Color Doppler ultrasound showed good continuity of Achilles tendon, local Achilles tendon slightly thickened and irregular fiber direction. The ankle plantar flexor force (92.2±3.9) N at 1 year after operation was significantly higher than that before operation (29.5±4.2) N (P<0.05);One year after operation, the AOFAS(91.20±3.30) was significantly higher than that before operation (42.20±4.40)(P<0.05);the ATRS (90.70±3.00) was significantly higher than that before operation(40.00±2.90)(P<0.05). CONCLUSION The gastrocnemius aponeurosis release combined with scar suture of Achilles tendon end is an effective technique for the treatment of chronic Achilles tendon rupture, avoid injury to hallux flexor longus or flexor digitorum longus, with the plantar flexor muscle strength of the ankle was recovered well, is an effective method to treat chronic Achilles tendon rupture.
Achilles Tendon/surgery* ; Adult ; Aponeurosis ; Cicatrix ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture/surgery* ; Sutures ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult