Surgical treatment of Achilles tendon rupture: Examination of strength of 3 types of suture techniques in a cadaver model
Year: 2005
Type: article
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.
Source: Acta Orthopaedica
Institution: Erasmus MC
Language: English
Subfield: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,779
OpenAlex ID: W16155809