Comparison of Functional Bracing vs Rigid Immobilization After Modified Percutaneous Achilles Tendon Repair

Rationale \& background information There is ongoing controversy over the optimal treatment and rehabilitation strategy of an acute Achilles tendon rupture. Percutaneous suturing seems to bridge the gap between open surgical and conservative treatment, but still raises scepticism due to concerns like strength of the repair, approximation of torn ends, re-rupture rate, sural nerve injuries, early functional rehabilitation and thus final outcome. The highest general complication rate (15.6%) is reported in patients treated with percutaneous repair and early mobilization. The purpose of the study is to analyze the results of two ways of postoperative regimen after treatment with the modified and biomechanically significantly stronger percutaneous repair under local anesthesia.

Study goals and objectives The goals of the study are to compare the results of two ways of postoperative regimen after treatment with the modified and biomechanically significantly stronger percutaneous repair under local anesthesia . Objectives are to find whether the modified repair is strong enough to be used with functional treatment that enables more comfort and earlier rehabilitation to the patients with comparable end (functional) results and no more complications (particularly re-ruptures).

Study design

This will be a 4-year prospective observational study, with a 3-year follow up of all the consecutive patients who will meet the inclusion criteria:

1. patients 18 years of age or older; 2) a rupture that occurred no more than 7 days before the operating procedure; 3) closed, complete ATR; 4) a rupture that occurred in the tendinous portion (2-8 cm proximal to the insertion); 5) no previous operative procedures or history of partial or complete rupture of the involved tendon; 6) no previous local, oral or parenteral therapy that might have weakened the tendon (for instance local infiltration of anesthetics or steroids in the AT region, oral or parenteral immunosuppressive therapy in patients with transplanted organs or immune diseases etc.). The diagnosis must be confirmed clinically with palpable gap in the tendon, positive Thompson's test and inability of the patients to raise on their toes or heel. The diagnosis will be routinely checked by ultrasonography and in any case of doubt with MRI.

Methodology All the patients who agree to take part in a study will undersign informed/consent and will be operated on with the modified and biomechanically significantly stronger percutaneous repair under local anesthesia . After that they will be randomized after modified percutaneous suturing under local anesthesia in two groups - based on the day of Team A on service in the functional bracing group (FG) or based on the day of Team B in the group who will wear rigid immobilization (IG).

The first schedule will be on the second day (dressing), when functional brace or rigid immobilization will be applied in 25° of plantar flexion (PF). After that regular follow up will be after 3 and 6 weeks. In FG immobilization remains the same for 6 weeks, in IG it will be changed after 3 weeks and the foot put into neutral position. Patients in both groups will use crutches for assistance, and careful weightbearing of 5 to 10 kg will be allowed within first 3 weeks. Patients will be allowed to perform ROM exercises as much as their immobilization allows. After 3 weeks, patients may start with weightbearing as much as tolerated (until pain is felt).

After 6 weeks, all immobilization will be removed and patients in both groups will start with the rehabilitation according to the protocol (learned with physiotherapists). They are allowed to walk without crutches, with progressively increasing weightbearing (till tolerable pain) and ROM exercises with careful increasing of dorsiflexion (DF) (till 8 weeks in the sitting position and if possible, in water). Stretching exercises and squats with lifted heel will be allowed after 8 weeks (with a hand support between two chairs or tables and careful increasing of the load until pain is felt). Raising on toes or heels with the operated leg only will be allowed 12 weeks after the operation. Limited sports activities will be individually allowed after three months with recommended full loading 6 months after operation.

Major and minor complication rate, diameter of the healed tendon, active and passive ankle range of motion (using neutral zero method), standing heel-rise test (after 3 and 6 months if no pain is felt) and clinical outcome using AOFAS score will be observed. Return to the previous activity level, presence of associated complaints and subjective assessment (scored as good, fair or poor) will be also assessed. The outcome will be checked again after 1 and finally after 3 years. All the data will be recorded in the medical record (in computer), additional (manual) list is recorded with the investigators. Statistical analysis (parametric and non-parametric tests) will be performed (null hypothesis is that there will be no significant differences between the groups in the number of complications, particularly re-ruptures and in final results (type I and type II errors will be considered, p value less than 0.05 will be considered as statistically significant). In any case of complications patients can be scheduled anytime to the clinics in order to solve the problems.

Safety considerations Any patient can withdraw the study anytime - it has to be stated but in the medical record.

All the safety protocols must be respected and no harm produced to patients.

Follow-up Clinical follow-up will take part 3 years. Patients will be scheduled after 3 and 6 weeks and then after 2, 3 and 6 months and then after 1 and 3 years after the procedure.

Quality assurance The trial will follow the principles of good clinical practice - patients will be able to come to the clinics anytime if any complications occur and to withdraw the study at any time. All the data through will be recorded in the hospital data system and in the checking list of investigators and followed by the investigators and other clinicians at the department, who will be acquainted to the study. Results will be collected and checked at the end of the study.

Expected outcomes of the study It's expected that patients in the FG will earn more comfort and regain earlier ROM and strength with no statistically significant differences in complication rate (particularly re-rupture rate) and possible benefits in the end functional outcome.

Dissemination of results and publication policy Publication of the results could bring the support and more confidence in the use of modified percutaneous Achilles tendon repair under local anesthesia with early functional treatment. It could be thus assessed as an effective one (with no more complications and with low costs) and as the method that brings more comfort to the patients with earlier ROM, strength and ability to return to the previous activities in comparison to the concept of rigid postoperative immobilization.

Duration of the project It's designed as a 4-year study.

Problems anticipated Potentially low number of patients who fulfil the inclusion criteria and who will accept to participate in the study, possible problems with the fear in patients of weakness of the functional immobilization, that can be so simply removed, potential problems in respecting the rehabilitation protocol, potential loss of the patients to the final follow-up and potential rejection of the patients to wear rigid immobilization, once they will hear about the comfort and benefits of functional bracing in the patients in the FG (this is one of the reasons for a relatively short duration of the project).

Project management The project will be lead by the main investigator and helped with the co-investigator - all the other employees at the department will be acquainted with the study.

Ethics Presented research will be performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The protocol will be considered and approved by the national ethics committee (KME) and will follow ethical standards.

All the patients will be given informed/consent protocol with a free will to take a participation or to decide to any other type of treatment (non-operative or open operative treatment) with a clear presentation of benefits and drawback of each method.

Budget and other support for the project No extra funds will be requested or provided.

Collaboration with other scientists or research institutions No other research institutions will be included.

Links to other projects No link to other projects or groups of investigators.

Other research activities of the investigators Investigators are a full time employees for a clinical work in a state-owned hospital as Orthopaedic-Trauma surgeons.