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Endoscopic Flexor Hallucis Longus Transfer vs Minimally Invasive Repair in Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture

Conditions
Achilles Tendon Surgery
Achilles Tendon Rupture
Achilles Tendon Injury
Interventions
Procedure: Surgery for the treatment of Acute Achilles tendon rupture
Registration Number
NCT06114368
Lead Sponsor
Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki
Brief Summary

The goal of this observational study is to compare the outcomes of two different surgical techniques (Endoscopic Flexor Hallucis Longus transfer - Group 1 vs Minimally Invasive primary repair - Group 2) for patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture. The main questions to be answered are:

1. Which group's patients are more satisfied?

2. Which group's patients appear to have a greater complication rate?

3. Which group's patients have greater calf and ankle circumference compared to the unaffected limb?

4. Which group's patients have greater passive and active range of ankle motion compared to the unaffected limb?

5. Are group 1 patients characterized by strength deficit in hallux flexion power?

Detailed Description

Two separate foot and ankle surgeons in Northern Greece prefer to use a different surgical technique in their respective patients with Acute Achilles tendon rupture.

The first one (A.E.) prefers to perform only Endoscopic Flexor Hallucis Longus transfer, while the second one (P.S.) prefers to perform only Minimally invasive primary repair assisted by the Achillon device (Percutaneous Achilles Repair System - PARS). They both agreed to enroll their recently operated patients (last 5 years) in this retrospective study, which will be conducted by the researcher (M.K.). The patient's study may be retrospective, nevertheless, the patients were randomly chosen and enrolled by a prospectively designed study protocol. Each surgeon applied the respective surgical treatment modality regardless of each patient's characteristics, biometrics, or comorbidities. Inclusion and Elimination criteria will be applied. The patient's satisfaction will be evaluated with the Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score (ATRS). Complications will be documented. Calf and ankle circumference will be measured and compared to the contralateral healthy limb. Ankle passive and active range of motion will be measured and compared to the contralateral healthy limb. Possible correlations will be investigated regarding patient age, BMI, history of smoking, level of activity, and comorbidities.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
40
Inclusion Criteria
  • Signed Consent Form
  • Age between 18-75 years
  • Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture (<3 weeks)
  • Surgical Management with Endoscopic Flexor Hallucis Longus transfer or Minimally Invasive primary tendon repair
  • More than 12 months postoperative follow-up
  • Patients operated after 2015
Exclusion Criteria
  • Inability or Unwillingness to cooperate
  • Medically unfit for examination (e.g. due to terminal illness)
  • Age less than 18 or more than 75 years
  • Non-operative Management as definitive treatment
  • Surgical Management other than the ones described in the inclusion criteria
  • Neglected Achilles Tendon Rupture (>3 weeks)
  • Bilateral Achilles Tendon Rupture
  • Patients operated before 2015
  • Comorbidities interfering with the secondary outcomes (e.g. Venous insufficiency resulting in lower limb excessive edema interferes with ankle and calf circumference, rheumatoid arthritis and/or previous foot and ankle surgery interferes with active and passive range of motion of the ankle, etc)

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Endoscopic Flexor Hallucis Longus transfer / Group 1Surgery for the treatment of Acute Achilles tendon rupturePatients with acute Achilles tendon rupture managed with Endoscopic Flexor Hallucis Longus transfer by one surgeon (A.E.) in one hospital (General Hospital of Naoussa, Naoussa, Greece), all of which followed the same rehabilitation protocol.
Minimally Invasive Primary repair / Group 2Surgery for the treatment of Acute Achilles tendon rupturePatients with acute Achilles tendon rupture managed with Minimally Invasive Primary repair by one surgeon (P.S.) in one hospital (St. Luke's Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece), all of which followed the same rehabilitation protocol.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Patient Satisfaction assessed with the Achilles Tendon Total Rupture ScoreMore than 12 months postoperatively

Evaluated and quantified with the Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score (minimum value = 0 - worst outcome, maximal value = 100 - best outcome)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Complication RateMore than 12 months postoperatively

Complications will be recorded and categorized: Rerupture, Infection, Nerve injury, Miscellaneous

Calf CircumferenceMore than 12 months postoperatively

Calf circumference measured 15 cm distally to the inferior pole of the patella. Contralateral limb calf circumference will also be measured. The Calf Circumference Difference will be calculated and compared between the two groups.

Ankle CircumferenceMore than 12 months postoperatively

Ankle circumference measured 8 cm proximally to the lateral malleolus. Contralateral limb ankle circumference will also be measured. The Ankle Circumference Difference will be calculated and compared between the two groups.

Ankle joint Range of MotionMore than 12 months postoperatively

Active and Passive Ankle joint Range of Motion will be calculated with an electronic goniometer. Contralateral limb Range of Ankle joint Motion will also be measured. The Range of Motion Difference will be calculated and compared between the two groups.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

General Hospital of Naoussa

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Náousa, Central Macedonia, Greece

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