Functional Status for Surgically and Non-surgically Treated Patients With Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture Following a Public Municipal Rehabilitation

Functional Status for Surgically and Non-surgically Treated Patients With Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture Following a Public Municipal Rehabilitation - A Prospective Cohort Study

A total Achilles tendon rupture is a common injury most often occuring in people aged between 30 and 50 years. The injury is more common amongst men than women (ratio 3:1) and typically occur during sports activities involving excentric and/or plyometric muscle work in plantar flexion of the foot (e.g., jumping, sprinting, change of directions).

Overall, there is no significant difference in treatment outcomes between surgical and non-surgical treatment besides a slightly greater risk of adverse events in surgical treatment and a small increased risk of re-rupture in non-surgical treatment. Several studies have investigated the importance of rehabilitation protocols without outcome differences between groups comparing more or less aggressive strategies.

Achilles tendon rupture often leads to significant limitations in functional level. Some of the most common used outcome measures for functional status are the heel rise tests evaluating endurance and maximum heel rise height. Studies using these tests often shows substantial deficits several years after the injury.

The purpose of this study is to investigate factors associated with functional status after rehabilitation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient has an acute achilles tendon rupture (treated within 14 days after injury).
• Adult patients aged of 18 years or older.
• Patients has given informed consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with bilateral achilles tendon rupture
• Patients with re-rupture of previous achilles tendon rupture