Revision Achilles Reconstruction with Hamstring Autograft and FHL Tendon Transfer in an Athlete

Excerpt

Achilles tendon injuries are very common, with a reported incidence of 18 ruptures per every 100,000 people [5, 9]. While there is evidence supporting both operative and non-operative management for acute ruptures, current evidence supports operative repair as the best treatment option in young, active people, hoping to return to an active lifestyle [6]. The most common complications reported following operative treatment include re-ruptures, wound breakdown, and deep infection [4]. Among the literature, the rates of re-rupture are reported to be between 2 and 8% of patients treated operatively for Achilles ruptures [1, 6, 12, 15]. In cases of re-rupture, infection of the tissue can be present as an underlying cause that either contributed to, or caused the failure of the initial operation [7]. In one report, a 20% incidence of complications following primary Achilles repair is reported, with the majority of these complications related to wound healing [5]. Pajala et al. retrospectively reviewed 409 patients treated in one facility for primary repair of a ruptured Achilles and found that there was a 2.2% incidence of deep infection [12]. …