Operativno zdravljenje raztrganja Ahilove kite* Surgical treatment of Achilles tendon rupture*

Currently, open surgical repair and per- cutaneous operation are the two most commonly used operative techniques for the repair of ruptured Achilles tendon. Open surgery is being increas- ingly replaced by the percutaneus technique. The objective of this study was to compare the results of the two methods, and investigate factors deter- mining treatment. We followed up a group of 20 patients treated by percutaneous repair in 1996, and a group of 20 patients who underwent open surgery between 1991 and 1992, both at the Department of Traumatology, Ljubljana. The group treated by the percutaneous technique showed a significantly shorter time of hospital- ization (p < 0.01) and a significantly faster restora- tion of function of the affected extremity (p < 0.05). There were no statisticaly significant differences between the groups as concerns the rate of complications and re-ruptures, time from injury to surgery, and length of immobilization.