Acute rupture of tendo Achillis - A prospective, randomised study of comparison between surgical and non-surgical treatment

In a prospective, randomised, multicentre study, 112 patients (99 men and 1 3 women, aged between 21 and 63 years) with acute, complete rupture of tend o Achillis were allocated either to surgical treatment followed by early fu nctional rehabilitation, using a brace, or to non-surgical treatment, with plaster splintage for eight weeks. The period of follow-up was for two year s. Evaluation was undertaken by independent observers and comprised intervi ews, clinical measurements, isokinetic muscle performance tests, heel-raise tests and an overall outcome score. The rate of rerupture was 20.8% after non-surgical and 1.7% after surgical treatment (p < 0.001). Surgical and non-surgical treatment produced equally good functional results if complications were avoided. However, the rate o f rerupture after non-surgical treatment was unacceptably high.