M. Paavola et al., Chronic Achilles tendon overuse injury: Complications after surgical treatment - An analysis of 432 consecutive patients, AM J SP MED, 28(1), 2000, pp. 77-82
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.