Measurement of Mechanical Properties of the Healing Achilles Tendon With or Without Early Weightbearing in a Clinical Randomized Trial

Patient with an acute Achilles tendon rupture coming to the local emergency room are asked to participate in our study. Patients have to be between 18 and 60 years and they must not have any contraindications for surgical treatment.

Patients who are interested in participating in the study receive oral and in written information about the study of the main investigator of the study (Thorsten Schepull). Patients who then agree to participate in the study are registered for surgery. All patients are operated the same way in local anaesthesia within 5 days after injury. We are going to use a conventional open technique with a dorso-medial approach. Tendon ends are going to be adapted with a resorbable suture and we are going to implant 2 Tantalum beads (size 0.8 mm) in the distal part of the tendon and 2 Tantalum beads with the same size in the proximal part. A short leg cast is going to be applied with the foot in the equinus position.

Randomization to early weightbearing or control group is done postoperatively

Group 1 (control group):

The short leg cast that is going to be applied during operation with the foot in the equinus position is removed after 3.5 weeks and a new cast is applied with the ankle in a neutral position for another 3.5 weeks. The new cast is removed after 3.5 weeks (cast treatment in total 7 weeks). Physiotherapy starts after cast removal, following our previous hospital routines. Full activity, including sports, is allowed after approximately 5 months.