Open versus Percutaneous Repair of Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture A Systematic Review

Abstract

Abstract Background The optimal treatment of acute Achilles tendon ruptures (AATR) is still under debate. It is most frequently ruptured in the 3rd and 4th decade of age. Objective The aim of this study was to compare open repair and minimally invasive repair in acute Achilles tendon rupture in adults regarding operative techniques, functional outcome and complications. Patients and Methods This systematic review included 6 articles with 329 patients. There were 165 patients had open repair and 164 patients by percutaneous repair with a mean follow-up of 23 months (range 20–24 months). Variables of each article were recorded and analyzed with respect to age, sex, follow-up, complications, and final outcomes. Results Percutaneous technique was much faster than open repair but regarding time to return to work, open repair patients had fewer weeks than the percutaneous. Complications were less in percutaneous repair except sural nerve injury. Conclusion The review has showed out that minimally invasive techniques clinically and biomechanically suitable alternatives to open repair based on both clinical outcomes and complication.