The intention is to compare prospectively operative and conservative early functional rehabilitation protocol in treatment of total achilles tendon rupture. To compare these treatments, the investigators use 1998 published Leppilahti-score, Rand-36 quality of life-questionnaire and MRI. The Leppilahti-score includes both subjective and objective items (pain, stiffness, subjective calf muscle weakness, footwear restrictions, active range of motion between ankles, subjective result, isokinetic calf muscle strength). The investigators also study MRI-imaging for both legs and compare including achilles tendon elongation and muscle volume correlations to Leppilahti-score results between these two treatments. Follow-up time is 18 months. Hypothesis is that operative treatment offers no benefit in comparison conservative treatment, with identical rehabilitation protocol.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
60
Operative treatment of achilles tendon rupture; End to end suturation by Krackow locking loop surgical technique with 2-Fiber-Wire suture and after operation identical protocol as conservative treatment.
Conservative treatment of achilles tendon rupture; 1 week equinus-cast without bearing, and then 6 week Vacoped orthosis with different equinus degrees and full weight bearing.
Oulu University Hospital
Oulu, Finland
Subjective and objective results in conservative and operative treatment of Achilles tendon rupture.
Subjective results consists of Rand-36 questionnaire and part of Leppilahti-scores questionnaire. Objective results consists of calf muscle isokinetic strength measurements and MRI-findings.
Time frame: 18 months
Complications in treatment of achilles tendon rupture.
Complications are re-rupture and postoperative infection.
Time frame: 18 months
Achilles tendon MRI-findings in operative and conservative treatment of achilles tendon rupture.
We study calf muscle volume, achilles tendon volume, fat degeneration and achilles tendon elongation.
Time frame: 18 months
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