J Korean Foot Ankle Soc.  2022 Jun;26(2):88-94. 10.14193/jkfas.2022.26.2.88.

Current Trends in the Treatment of Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture: Analysis of the Korean Foot and Ankle Society (KFAS) Member Survey

• Cho J
• Cho BK
• Chung HJ
• Bae SY
• The Academic Committee of Korean Foot and Ankle Society, 2021

• KMID: 2530489
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14193/jkfas.2022.26.2.88

Abstract

Purpose
This study was based on the Korean Foot and Ankle Society (KFAS) member survey and aimed to report the current trends in the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of acute Achilles tendon rupture (AATR) over the past few decades.
Materials and Methods
A web-based questionnaire containing 34 questions was sent to all KFAS members in October 2021. The questions were mainly related to the clinical experience and preferred management of patients with AATR. Answers with a prevalence ≥50% of the respondents were considered a tendency.
Results
Seventy-one (12.9%) of the 550 members responded to the survey. The male sex ratio in AATR was answered mean 78%, and the most common age groups were 30~40 years (n=49; 69.0%), and 40~50 years (n=37; 52.1%), in that order. The most common seasons for the occurrence of AATR were spring (37 cases; 52.1%) and autumn (27 cases; 38.0%). Also, sports-related rupture had an average occurrence of 76.2%. The most important clinical factor to determine the type of treatment was the history of previous injuries, and 75.9% of respondents started conservative treatment in the 2010s. The most preferred protocol of conservative treatment was an orthosis capable of ankle range of motion after casting (68.5%), and 53.7% ‘satisfied’ and 1.9% ‘very satisfied’ with conservative treatment. The most preferred surgical method was open repair (80.3%), and the Krackow method (60.6%), and 49.3% of treated patients responded ‘satisfied’ and 45.1% ‘very satisfied’ with this treatment.
Conclusion
This study gives updated information concerning the current trend of epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of AATR in Korea. Both consensus and variation in the approach to AATR were identified using this survey study. This study may raise the awareness of various possible approaches toward AATR and should be used to further establish a standard protocol for the management of this injury.

Keyword

Achilles tendon; Rupture; Trend; Survey; Korean Foot and Ankle Society

Figure

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  Figure. 1 (A) Predisposing age for acute Achilles tendon rupture, (B) Seasonal variation of acute Achilles tendon rupture.

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  Figure. 2 Degree of significance of the clinical factors in determine for type of treatment in acute Achilles tendon rupture.

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  Figure. 3 Reasons for conservative treatment in acute Achilles tendon rupture. Non-Op.: non-operation, Op.: operation, RCT: randomized controlled trial.

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  Figure. 4 Preferred protocol of conservative treatment in acute Achilles tendon rupture.

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  Figure. 5 Preferred approach for re-rupture after conservative treatment in acute Achilles tendon rupture.

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  Figure. 6 Reasons for surgical treatment in acute Achilles tendon rupture. Non-Op.: non-operation, Op.: operation, RCT: randomized controlled trial.

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  Figure. 7 Preferred rehabilitation protocol after surgical treatment in acute Achilles tendon rupture.

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  Figure. 8 Preferred approach for re-rupture after surgical treatment in acute Achilles tendon rupture.

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