Chronic Achilles tendon overuse injury: Complications after surgical treatment - An analysis of 432 consecutive patients

We analyzed the complications after surgical treatment of Achilles tendon o veruse injuries in 432 consecutive patients. The patients underwent a clini cal examination 2 weeks, and 1, 2, and 5 months after the surgery. If a com plication appeared, the patient was followed up clinically for at least 1 y ear. There were 46 (11%) complications in the 432 patients: 14 skin edge ne croses, 11 superficial wound infections, 5 seroma formations, 5 hematomas, 5 fibrotic reactions or scar formations, 4 sural nerve irritations, 1 new p artial rupture, and 1 deep vein thrombosis. Fourteen patients with a compli cation had reoperations: four patients for skin edge necrosis, two for supe rficial wound infection, two for seroma formation, one for hematoma formati on, two for fibrotic reaction or scar formation, two for sural nerve irrita tion, and one for a new partial rupture. About every 10th patient treated s urgically for chronic Achilles tendon overuse injury suffered from a postop erative complication that clearly delayed recovery. However, the majority o f patients with a complication healed and returned to their preinjury level s of activity. To reduce this morbidity, it is essential that the surgeon b e continuously aware of the possibility of postoperative complications and use proper surgical techniques.