Korean J Phys Anthropol.  2017 Jun;30(2):39-46. 10.11637/kjpa.2017.30.2.39.

A Comparative Evaluation of Absorbable and Nonabsorbable Sutures for Open Repair of Achilles Tendon Rupture: A Pilot Study

• Park JH
• Chun DI
• Lee SH
• Cho JH

• KMID: 2385295
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11637/kjpa.2017.30.2.39

Abstract

This pilot study was performed to compare the functional and clinical results including complications after surgery in the open repair of Achilles tendon rupture with regard to the type of suture material. A consecutive series of twenty patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture who underwent open repair were enrolled in this pilot study. The patients were divided equally into 2 groups according to suture type. In the nonabsorbable suture group, No. 2 braided nonabsorbable polyethylene terephthalate sutures were used, and in the absorbable suture group, braided absorbable polyglactin sutures were used. The Korean version of the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and complications were assessed to evaluate functional and clinical result. Mean total Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) was 89.8 (range, 71.1~100) in the nonabsorbable suture group and 82.7 (range, 61.9~92.5) in the absorbable suture group (p=0.22). All patients returned to their previous life activity. The absorbable suture group had fewer postoperative complications (10%) than the nonabsorbable suture group (20%), but there was no significant difference between two groups (p=0.45). This pilot study showed that use of an absorbable suture for Achilles tendon repair had functional and clinical results comparable to those of the nonabsorbable suture. However, a use of an absorbable suture was associated with a lower incidence of complications than the use of nonabsorbable suture. Therefore, these results have to be confirmed in a randomized controlled cohort trial with larger population.

Keyword

Achilles tendon; Acute rupture; Polyethylene terephthalate; Polyglactin

MeSH Terms

Achilles Tendon*
Ankle
Cohort Studies
Foot
Humans
Incidence
Pilot Projects*
Polyethylene Terephthalates
Polyglactin 910
Postoperative Complications
Rupture*
Sutures*
Polyethylene Terephthalates
Polyglactin 910