Chronic Achilles tendon rupture in elderly treated with a combination of the side-locking loop suture technique and early rehabilitation protocol: two cases report

A chronic Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) is generally defined as a rupture that occurs more than 4–6 weeks after the initial injury. A variety of corrective techniques have been reported, such as direct repair, V-Y plasty, turndown flap, tendon transfer and free tendon grafting. These procedures generally produce good results, but have the disadvantage of requiring prolonged immobilization and weight-bearing restrictions. This may be a risk factor for falls and decreased function in the lower limbs, especially in older patients. Side-locking loop sutures (SLLS) were first introduced in 2010 as a direct repair technique for acute ATR. This technique provides higher tensile strength, which may allow for early rehabilitation protocols such as early range of motion and early weight-bearing of the ankle without postoperative immobilization. In this report, we describe two cases of chronic ATR in elderly patients treated with SLLS and an early rehabilitation protocol.