Objective To investigate the effectiveness of modified percutaneous suture in repairing acute closed Achilles tendon rupture by comparing with conventional open suture. Methods Between January 2006 and October 2009, 50 patients with acute closed Achilles tendon rupture were treated with modified percutaneous suture by making 5 small incisions at both sides of Achilles tendon and zigzag suture (improved group, n=22) and with Kessler suture (conventional group, n=28), respectively. No significant difference was found in gender, age, time from injury to operation between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). Results In improved group, the patients achieved healing of incisions by first intention after operation and nocomplication occurred; however, incision infection occurred in 1 case, Achilles tendon re-rupture in 1 case, and incision scar contracture in 2 cases in conventional group. The operation time of improved group [(38.7 ± 6.6) minutes] was significantly shorter (t= —12.29, P=0.00) than that of conventional group [(52.3 ± 6.9) minutes]; the blood loss of improved group [(4.9 ± 2.0) mL] was significantly less (t= —25.20, P=0.00) than that of conventional group [(40.7 ± 7.1) mL]. The patients were followed up 2-3 years (mean, 29.9 months). The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was 99.6 ± 1.0 in improved group and was 98.4 ± 3.0 in conventional group, showing no significant difference between 2 groups (t=1.66, P=0.10). Conclusion Comparison with conventional open suture, modified percutaneous suture has some advantages, such as easy operation, less complications, rapid recovery of limb function, and so on. Modified percutaneous suture is one of the best choices for the treatment of acute closed Achilles tendon rupture.
