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Achilles Tendon Ruptures

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Book cover Sports Injuries of the Foot and Ankle

Abstract

Achilles tendon ruptures are increasing in incidence, with the greatest incidence in the over 60s age group. The rehabilitation time following this injury is prolonged and patients have calf weakness of up to 30%.

There is debate over the optimal method of management between nonoperative and operative repair, followed by rehabilitation. Aims of treatment are to restore activities of daily living and sports activity with minimal complications. Operative treatment reduces tendon elongation, minimizes calf weakness, and may depending upon the age of the patient reduce the re-rupture rate.

Open repair is the traditional operative technique although there is increasing evidence of the effectiveness of percutaneous and minimally invasive surgery. The avoidance of early weight-bearing does not prevent tendon lengthening.

Nonoperative treatment consisting of 2 weeks in cast followed by the use of an adjustable external equinus corrected brace and rehabilitation shows low re-rupture rates and allows patients to return to daily activities without a problem.

Management of Achilles tendon rupture must be tailored to individual patient requirements for the resumption of day-to-day activities, return the return to sport with optimal ankle plantar flexion strength and the risk of re-rupture.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orhopaedics, Institute of Clinical Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Jon Karlsson, Olof Westin & Katarina Nilsson-Helander

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Princess Royal Hospital, Telford, Shropshire, UK

    Mike Carmont

Authors
  1. Jon Karlsson
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  2. Olof Westin
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  3. Mike Carmont
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  4. Katarina Nilsson-Helander
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jon Karlsson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Sports Traumatology Koelliker Hospital, Torino, Italy

    Gian Luigi Canata

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Aspetar Hospital, Doha, Qatar

    Pieter d'Hooghe

  3. Department of Orthopedics, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, CO, USA

    Kenneth J. Hunt

  4. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Amsterdam Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Zuidoost, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands

    Gino M.M.J. Kerkhoffs

  5. Orthopaedics and Traumatology Unit, University Campus Bio medico, Rome, Italy

    Umile Giuseppe Longo

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Karlsson, J., Westin, O., Carmont, M., Nilsson-Helander, K. (2019). Achilles Tendon Ruptures. In: Canata, G., d'Hooghe, P., Hunt, K., Kerkhoffs, G., Longo, U. (eds) Sports Injuries of the Foot and Ankle. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-58704-1_33

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-58704-1_33

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-58703-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-58704-1

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