Surgical treatment of achilles tendon rupture: examination of strength of 3 types of suture techniques in a cadaver model

Acta Orthop. 2005 Jun;76(3):408-11.

Abstract

Background: The mechanical properties of present-day percutaneous repairs of Achilles tendon ruptures are not known.

Material and methods: Artificially-created ruptures in 24 human cadaveric Achilles tendons were repaired with an open Bunnell repair, a percutaneous calcaneal tunnel or a percutaneous bone-anchor repair. In the open technique no.1 PDS-II absorbable suture material was used, and in the percutaneous techniques either no.1 PDS-II or no.1 Panacryl absorbable suture material was used. The specimens were tested in a materials testing machine until failure occurred.

Results: The common mode of failure was suture breakage in non-anchor repairs, and anchor pullout in anchor repairs. The average strength of the repairs varied from 166 N (SD 60) to 211 N (SD 30), with no differences between the techniques (p = 0.5).

Interpretation: Taking costs into account, the percutaneous calcaneal tunnel technique and the open technique are the methods of choice.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Achilles Tendon / injuries*
  • Achilles Tendon / surgery
  • Cadaver
  • Humans
  • Materials Testing
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures / methods*
  • Rupture
  • Suture Techniques*
  • Sutures
  • Tensile Strength
  • Treatment Outcome