Introduction
Materials and methods
Study design
Study population
The survey
Survey administration
Statistical analysis
Results
Survey responders
Characteristic | n (%) |
---|---|
Experience (years) | |
0–5 | 18 (20) |
5–10 | 21 (23) |
10–15 | 15 (17) |
15–20 | 15 (17) |
> 20 | 22 (24) |
Practice setting | |
Non-academic hospital without residents | 27 (30) |
Non-academic hospital with residents | 43 (47) |
Academic hospital | 16 (18) |
Private clinic | 4 (4) |
Combination of academic and private practice | 1 (1) |
Number of ATRs treated/year | |
< 5 | 29 (32) |
5–15 | 46 (51) |
15–25 | 11 (12) |
> 25 | 5 (6) |
Diagnosis
Primary treatment
General preferred primary treatment
Preferred primary treatment per patient factor
Factor | Treatment | n (%) |
---|---|---|
Age < 40 years | Surgical | 67 (74) |
Non-surgical | 24 (26) | |
Age > 40 years | Surgical | 41 (45) |
Non-surgical | 50 (55) | |
ASA < 3 | Surgical | 56 (62) |
Non-surgical | 35 (38) | |
ASA > 3 | Surgical | 5 (5) |
Non-surgical |
86 (95)
| |
Athletic | Surgical |
72 (79)
|
Non-surgical | 19 (21) | |
Sedentary | Surgical | 6 (6) |
Non-surgical |
85 (94)
| |
BMI < 30 kg/m2 | Surgical | 58 (64) |
Non-surgical | 33 (36) | |
BMI > 30 kg/m2 | Surgical | 33 (36) |
Non-surgical | 58 (64) | |
Gap size < 1 cm | Surgical | 46 (51) |
Non-surgical | 45 (49) | |
Gap size > 1 cm | Surgical |
68 (75)
|
Non-surgical | 23 (25) | |
Injury < 6 weeks old | Surgical | 58 (64) |
Non-surgical | 33 (36) | |
Injury > 6 weeks old | Surgical | 38 (42) |
Non-surgical | 53 (58) |
Non-surgical treatment methods
Treatment method | Surgical n (%) | Non-surgicalan (%) |
---|---|---|
Preoperative antibiotics | ||
Yes | 37 (41) | |
No | 54 (59) | |
Preoperative anticoagulants | ||
Yes | 38 (42) | |
No | 53 (58) | |
Surgical technique | ||
Open repair | 59 (65) | |
Augmented repair | 5 (5) | |
Percutaneous | 9 (10) | |
Combined mini-open | 17 (19) | |
Other not specified | 1 (1) | |
Tunneling through the calcaneus | ||
Yes | 12 (13) | |
No |
79 (87)
| |
Suturing technique | ||
Bunnell | 50 (55) | |
Kessler | 19 (21) | |
Epitendinous | 2 (2) | |
Mitek-anchors | 7 (8) | |
Krackow | 2 (2) | |
Other | 11 (12) | |
Type of sutures | ||
Absorbable | 61(67) | |
Non-absorbable | 30 (33) | |
Initial immobilisation | ||
Equinus and plaster cast | 54 (59) |
81 (90)
|
Non-equinus and plaster cast | 24 (26) | 2 (2) |
Boot/brace | 9 (10) | 5 (6) |
Tape | 4 (4) | 2 (2) |
Length of initial immobilisation (weeks) | ||
2 | 41 (46) | |
3 | 3 (33) | |
4 | 6 (7) | |
5 | 1 (1) | |
6 | 34 (38) | |
> 6 | 5 (6) | |
Change foot position during immobilisation | ||
Yes | 61 (67) |
74 (82)
|
No | 30 (33) | 16 (18) |
Frequency of foot position changeb | ||
Every week | 7 (11) | 7 (9) |
Every 2 weeks |
52 (85)
|
63 (85)
|
Every 3 weeks | 2 (3) | 3 (4) |
Every 4 weeks | 0 (0) | 1 (1) |
When can the patient bear weight (weeks) | ||
2 | 35 (38) | 30 (33) |
4 | 14 (15) | 12 (13) |
6 | 34 (37) | 39 (43) |
8 | 4 (4) | 4 (4) |
10 | 2 (2) | 2 (2) |
12 | 1 (1) | 3 (3) |
Surgical treatment methods
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation method | Surgical n (%) | Non-surgicalan (%) |
---|---|---|
Applied protection | ||
Walking boot | 23 (25) | 27 (30) |
Heel-lift | 31 (34) | 28 (31) |
Brace | 4 (4) | 15 (17) |
Tape | 14 (15) | 14 (16) |
None | 19 (21) | 5 (6) |
Not specified | 1 (1) | |
Referral to physiotherapist | ||
Yes |
79 (87)
|
79 (88)
|
No | 12 (13) | 11 (12) |
Monitoring modality | ||
Patient follow-up |
85 (93)
|
84 (92)
|
Questionnaires | 5 (6) | 4 (4) |
Heel-rise test | 17 (19) | 17 (19) |
Tolerated load on tendon | 16 (18) | 15 (17) |
US | 0 (0) | 1 (1) |
MRI | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |