OUTCOME AND PROGNOSTIC FACTORS OF ACHILLES RUPTURE REPAIR USING A NEWSCORING METHOD

A new clinical scoring system, including subjective assessment of symp toms and evaluation of ankle range of motion and isokinetic measuremen t of ankle plantar flexion and dorsiflexion strengths, is presented in 101 patients (86 men, 15 women) who had repair of a closed Achilles t endon rupture. Twenty-one patients were competitive athletes and 70 we re recreational athletes. Eighty-one percent of the ruptures, were rel ated to sports, and 32% occurred while playing volleyball. Twenty-six patients had previous Achilles tendon symptoms. At followup, an averag e of 3.1 years after repair, the overall result scores were excellent in 34 cases, good in 46, fair in 17, and poor in four. Only age was a predictor of overall results. The isokinetic strength scores were exce llent or good in 72 cases, fair in 18, and poor in 11. presence of sys temic diseases, activity level, precious Achilles tendon symptoms, and later return to physical exercise were predictors of strength results . Gender, body weight, height, period between rupture and operation, s urgeon, rupture site, operative method, complications, and thickness, width, and area of the Achilles tendon at followup were not related si gnificantly to the outcome.