Chronic bilateral asynchronous achilles tendon rupture treated using modified whole flexor hallucis longus transfer reconstruction: A case report

INTRODUCTION: Achilles tendon rupture is common, but bilateral ruptures are very rare. Treatment of chronic Achilles tendon rupture is very challenging due tendon retraction and atrophied. We report a case of bilateral asynchronous Achilles tendon rupture patient who was treated with modified minimally invasive whole flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendon transfer to repair the defects. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 52-year-old male farmer presented to our hospital complaining of bilateral heel pain that had disrupted his walking for 6 months. The patient had been misdiagnosed and under-treated for 1 year. Physical examination showed that his plantar flexors were tender and weak, with marked hypotrophy of the calf muscles. Bilateral ankle radiographs of both X-ray and computed topography (CT) revealed no bone injure. DIAGNOSIS: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicated a bilateral Achilles tendon rupture. The diagnosis was further confirmed by postoperative histological examination, which revealed Achilles tendonitis accompanied by regional calcification and chondrometaplasia. INTERVENTIONS: Surgical reconstruction of the ruptured Achilles tendons was done through a modified minimally invasive whole FHL tendon transfer followed by physiotherapy. OUTCOMES: The patient was immobilized in a cast for the next 6 weeks, gradual weight bearing gradually was then encouraged for another 6 weeks, and full weight-bearing started 3 months after surgery. By 6-month postoperation, the patient could walk and jog normally returned to his pre-injury working condition. CONCLUSION: Surgical intervention is among the primary treatment of chronic Achilles tendon rupture. However, one of the challenges in its treatment is providing suitable graft for tendon reconstruction. Our case presents a successful reconstruction procedure using less-invasive whole FHL transfer technique. This surgical technique provides satisfactory clinical and functional outcome and can be considered for future therapy.