Bearing Weight at the Same Day in Conservatively Treated Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture Patients: A Single Center Experience

OBJECTIVES: Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) often occurs in 40- to 50-year-old men.. At treating there has been considerable research interest in attempting to identify the optimal treatment strategy, surgical or non-surgical, combined with functional early mobilisation or plaster cast immobilisation. Our aimed to compare the outcomes of bearing weight at the same day in conservatively treated and surgically treated groups of ATR patients. METHODS: Thirty-two conservatively treated ATR patients and twenty nine surgically treated ATR patients were included to our study. Patients were over 18 years old who had been followed for 12 months by our clinic. All patients underwent knee supporting cast at four week and both group was asked for walking with bearing weight (%30-40) at same day. RESULTS: In all groups 2nd and 12th months’ AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) scorings of the patients had significant differences (p<0.001). Return to work time results were significantly different and shorter in conservatively treated group (p= 0.035). This study founded a relatively high complication percentage of (6 patients) 20.6% in the surgically treated group. On the contrary the wound complications non-surgical group has not been be observed. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study adds to evidence that a well conducted non-surgical treatment protocol (early mobilization treatment regimen) gives a good clinical outcome and complication rate is not higher than after surgical treatment.