Abstract
Background: Patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) exhibit prolonged healing, high incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and a wide variation of functional outcome. This extensive discrepancy in outcome may be explained by a lack of knowledge of detrimental factors, and subsequent shortage of adequate interventions.
Methods: A total of 111 patients (84 men, 16 women; mean age 40.3±8.4) with acute total ATR were prospectively assessed. At one year post-operatively a uniform outcome score, Achilles Combined Outcome Score (ACOS), was obtained by combining three validated, independent, outcome measures: Achilles tendon Total Rupture Score, heel-rise height test, and limb symmetry heel-rise height. Candidate predictors of ACOS included; treatment, sex, age, smoking, body mass index (BMI), time to surgery, physical activity level pre- and post-injury, symptoms, quality of life and DVT-incidence.
Results: Three independent variables correlated significantly with the dichotomized outcome score ACOS, while the other factors demonstrated no correlation. Low age (40 or less=0; above 40=1) was the strongest independent predictor of developing a good outcome at one year after ATR (OR= 0.20, 95 % C.I. 0.08 – 0.51), followed by female gender (Man= 1; Woman= 2) (OR= 4.18, 95 % C.I. 1.01 – 17.24). Notably, patients without a DVT (No=0, Yes=1) during post-operative immobilization experienced a better outcome (OR= 0.31, 95 % C.I. 0.12 – 0.80).
Conclusion: DVT during leg immobilization, aging and male gender are independent negative predictors of outcome in patients with acute ATR. Age and gender should be further studied as to pinpoint the underlying causes leading to poor outcome. To enhance the outcome after ATR the first clinical focus should be on DVT-prevention during immobilization, possibly by usage of mechanical compression therapy and early weight bearing and mobilization.
