BILATERAL ACHILLES-TENDON RUPTURE - A REPORT ON 2 CASES

Two cases of traumatic bilateral Achilles tendon rupture are reported. One of the patients was a healthy middle-aged man, who had been an ac tive national-level gymnast 20 years earlier. He had not suffered any complaints of Achilles tendons before. The ruptures occurred when, aft er a sauna, he showed his guests a vault forwards, which he had been a ble to perform easily. This time the landing took place on the toes, c ausing a high peak stretch to the calf muscles and Achilles tendons. T he total rupture of both Achilles tendons was treated surgically, with an excellent result 2 days after the trauma. End-to-end suturation an d a fascial flap plasty were made on both sides. No macroscopic degene ration could be detected on the rupture sites. He was allowed to walk freely 6 weeks after the surgery. The second case was a 54-year-old wo man, who had suffered from Achilles tendinitis and peritendinitis for 2 years. Both tendons had been surgically treated, and severe adhesion s and local degenerative changes had been found. The tendon rupture oc curred when she injured her left ankle while getting out of the car. T wo days later she fell at home, because of the weakness of the left si de, and consequently the right Achilles tendon was injured. She was tr eated conservatively for 10 days, before the surgery was performed, Bo th tendons were ruptured and an extensive degeneration of the area was observed. The right side suffered from a rerupture, which was again t reated surgically. After surgery the recovery was slow, but the final result 3 years later was moderate. Neither of the patients had any sys temic diseases.