Achilles tendon ruptures in South-East Finland between 1986-1996, with special reference to epidemiology, complications of surgery and hospital costs

Background and Aims: The incidence of achilles tendon (AT) ruptures is incr easing. The aim of the present study was to evaluate annual incidence, aeti ology, operative complications and direct hospital costs of AT ruptures. Material and Methods: A retrospective study of 93 consecutive patients oper ated on for AT rupture from January 1986 to December 1996 at Kuusankoski Di strict Hospital (area with 92 500 inhabitants) was performed. During the ob servation period no patient with an AT rupture was treated conservatively. Results: 95 AT ruptures were treated including one rerupture (1 %) and one patient with two ruptures. There were 7 (7 %) patients with an open AT rupt ure. The total annual incidence in the hospital area was 8.6 (+/- 4.3) and for closed AT ruptures 8.0 (+/- 3.8). The total incidence was 9.3 (+/- 4.6) /10(5) and for closed AT ruptures 8.6 (+/- 4.1) /10(5) inhabitants per yea r. Most of the injuries were sport related, the most frequent sport being v olleyball. Patients operated for closed AT rupture had major surgical compl ications in 4.5 % of the cases and the total, complication rate was 11 %. T he average direct hospital costs per patient was USD 1375. Conclusions: The incidence of AT ruptures is increasing in South-East Finla nd. The rate of major surgical complication was low (4.5 %) and comparable with earlier studies.