Dileep Kumar Reddy Bekkam Siddigari, Akshith Mondem, Vijay Mohan Reddy K. B
BACKGROUND Chronic rupture of the tendo Achilles is debilitating and difficult to treat, as there is usually a gap between the tendon ruptured ends, and also due to scarring and retraction of the tendon ends. Surgical reconstruction is superior to conservative management. MATERIALS AND METHODS 25 patients aged between 30 to 60 years underwent reconstruction of chronically ruptured tendo Achilles either with flexor hallucis longus or peroneus brevis. Ruptures are due to stumbling in fields, fall from stairs and some are uneventful. All these patients attended Orthopaedics OP of Government General Hospital, Kurnool. The patients were admitted and surgically treated after appropriate counselling and consent. The results were compared with Quigley Scale and Leppilahti Scores. RESULTS Rupture of the Achilles tendon is more common in middle aged males. Delay in diagnosis is due to lack of adequate knowledge to the treating physician and lack of immediate disability to patient. Thompson test has high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis. Complications such as superficial skin infections, wound dehiscence are more in patients treated with peroneus brevis. Sensory disturbance on foot is an exclusive complication of patients treated with peroneus brevis. CONCLUSION Flexor hallucis longus is superior to peroneus brevis because of anatomical and technical advantages, less incidence of superficial infections, wound dehiscence and sensory disturbance, with better weight bearing times and functional recovery.
