Complications of the treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures

Foot Ankle Clin. 2009 Dec;14(4):745-59. doi: 10.1016/j.fcl.2009.07.004.

Abstract

Since the first reports in the medical literature of treatment of the Achilles tendon, complications have been recognized from both non-operative and operative techniques. These include tendon rerupture, sural nerve morbidity, wound healing problems, changes in tendon morphology, venous thromboembolism, elongation of the tendon, complex regional pain syndrome, and compartment syndrome. This article delineates the incidence for each of these complications, with differing techniques, methods of avoiding these complications and treatment methods if they occur.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Achilles Tendon / injuries*
  • Achilles Tendon / physiopathology
  • Achilles Tendon / surgery*
  • Ankle Joint / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Recurrence
  • Rupture
  • Sural Nerve / anatomy & histology
  • Sural Nerve / injuries
  • Surgical Flaps
  • Tendon Injuries / surgery*
  • Thromboembolism / epidemiology
  • Thromboembolism / prevention & control
  • Venous Thrombosis / epidemiology
  • Wound Healing / physiology