Time to Surgery and Technique as Predictors of Complications after Surgical Treatment of Achilles Ruptures: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Category: Trauma; Ankle; Hindfoot; Sports Introduction/Purpose: Achilles tendon ruptures are challenging injuries and complications following Achilles repair surgery can lead to poor patient outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine if time to surgery and an open versus closed surgical technique were related to postoperative complications. We hypothesized that an increased time to surgery and an open surgical technique would correlate with an increase in complications. Methods: One hundred ninety-four patients at a single institution who underwent Achilles rupture repair surgery between October 2016 and November 2020 were included. All patients had a minimum follow-up of 3 months +- 14 days. A retrospective review was performed collecting data which included injury and treatment timepoints, surgical technique (open or percutaneous), and complications. Patients were separated into 3 categories based on time to surgery: acute (6 weeks). Complications were categorized as minor (wounds and/or infections that resolved with outpatient care), major (wounds and/or infections requiring operative intervention), re-rupture, DVT, and all other complications. A Fisher's exact test was used to determine if there was a statistically significant relationship between time to surgery and post-surgical complications as well as surgical technique and post-surgical complications. Results: In total, 194 patients were included for analysis: 134 with an acute rupture (69%), 36 sub-acute (18.6%), and 24 chronic (12.4%). 45 complications were observed in 37 patients (19.0% of patients); 8 patients had a minor complication (4.1%), 8 major (4.1%), 7 re-ruptures (3.6%), 12 DVTs (6.2%), and 8 others (4.1%). 25 acute ruptures had complications (18.7%), 6 sub-acute (16.7%), and 6 chronic (25%). No statistical differences were determined between time to surgery or surgical technique and complications among groups. There was an increase in complications in the chronic group, the most notable being Achilles tendon re-rupture (P = 0.06). The mean re-rupture time from the date of original injury to surgery was 47 days (range 3-131 days), and mean time from surgery to re-rupture was 49 days (range 7-133 days). Conclusion: This study did not demonstrate any statistically significant relationship between time to surgery or open versus percutaneous surgical technique and post-surgical complications following operative treatment of Achilles ruptures. Though not statistically significant, complications and re-ruptures were more frequent in patients undergoing surgery >6 weeks following injury. These results suggest increased time to surgery may be a predictor of increased risk for postoperative complications following Achilles repair surgery, however further research including studies with larger patient populations is needed to support this determination.