A Percutaneous Knotless Technique for Acute Achilles Tendon Ruptures

Abstract

Achilles tendon ruptures are a common tendon injury, usually occurring in middle-aged men during recreational sporting activities. Both nonoperative and operative management are employed to treat these injuries. Several operative treatments are described in the literature, including percutaneous Achilles repair, mini-open repair, and open repair. Open Achilles repair is associated with higher rates of impaired wound healing and infection, whereas minimally invasive techniques have been reported to have an increased risk of iatrogenic sural nerve injury. More recently, low complication rates, improved cosmetic appearance, reduced operating times, and improved clinical outcomes have been reported for the percutaneous Achilles repair technique. In this Technical Note, we present our preferred technique using the Percutaneous Achilles Repair System (Arthrex, Naples, FL), which has been reported to have minimal wound and nerve complications, and early return to activity.

Fig 1

The tendon rupture is palpated, and a 3-cm horizontal incision is made approximately 1 cm proximal to the defect. The patient is in a prone position.

Fig 2

While grasping the tendon, a 1-inch (2.54-cm) ribbon malleable retractor is used to free the Achilles tendon from the surrounding paratenon, mobilizing the tendon. The paratenon is initially separated from the tendon with a No. 15 blade, and countertension is evenly applied with 2 Kocher clamps. (L, lateral; M, medial.)

Fig 3

Distal right leg pictured. The Percutaneous Achilles Repair System jig (Arthrex) is placed in the incision and advanced proximally between the tendon and until it is stopped by the gastrocsoleus complex muscle belly. (L, lateral; M, medial.)

Fig 4

On the right leg, with the percutaneous Achilles repair system jig in place, the sutures are placed percutaneously to capture the proximal end of the tendon. The needle suture passer is first placed through the most proximal No. 1, using a FiberTape (Arthrex) suture. (L, lateral; M, medial.)

Fig 5

The remaining sutures are passed through the guide system while applying distal traction on the Achilles tendon. (L, lateral; M, medial.)

Fig 6

With all sutures in place and appropriately tied, the guide system is removed, pulling the suture bridge construct through the proximal incision. Of note, the sutures are also passed through the paratenon to minimize the risk of injury to the sural nerve. (L, lateral; M, medial.)

Fig 7

A 3.5-mm drill, with drill guide, is used to make holes at a 45° angle converging toward the midline within these stab incisions for cortical fixation of the proximal tendon sutures. (L, lateral; M, medial.)

Fig 8

Five sutures placed through the proximal Achilles tendon with the PARS jig. No. 1 suture is a FiberTape suture, which is placed last in the No. 1 hole of the jig. No. 2 suture is a blue FiberWire suture. No. 3 suture is a green and white striped suture with a loop that is pulled through and left on one side. No. 4 suture is a second green and white striped suture with a loop that is pulled through but leaves the loop on the opposite side of the first loop. No. 5 suture is a black and white striped TigerWire suture. All sutures except the FiberTape in the No. 1 hole are No. 2 FiberWire and are placed through the hole for which they are numbered. (PARS, Percutaneous Achilles Repair System.)

Fig 9

While the PARS jig is still in place, the blue suture is wrapped around the 2 green and white striped sutures with loops on the side of the respective loop and then pulled through the loop. The loop is used to pull the blue suture through the Achilles tendon to the opposite side of the leg. This is followed by doing the same thing and pulling the blue suture on the opposite side across the Achilles tendon effectively locking the suture in the tendon. (PARS, Percutaneous Achilles Repair System.)

Fig 10

Blue sutures have been wrapped and placed through the loops of the green and white striped sutures on each side of the leg. (PARS, Percutaneous Achilles Repair System.)

Fig 11

Loop of the green and white striped suture loop No. 2 pulls the blue suture through the Achilles tendon from right to left in the picture. (PARS, Percutaneous Achilles Repair System.)

Fig 12

Loop of the green and white striped suture loop No. 1 pulls the blue suture through the Achilles tendon from left to right in the picture. (PARS, Percutaneous Achilles Repair System.)

Fig 13

Remaining 3 sutures include 1 FiberTape from the No. 1 hole, 1 blue locked suture from the No. 2 hole, and 1 TigerWire suture from the No. 5 hole. The PARS jig now pulls these futures from outside the leg to inside the paratenon and out the original transverse incision at the rupture site where the sutures are carefully removed from the inner PARS jig. (PARS, Percutaneous Achilles Repair System.)

Fig 14

A Banana SutureLasso (Arthrex) is passed through the distal Achilles tendon stump to retrieve the proximal FiberWire and FiberTape strands. The strands are then passed through the distal Achilles stump while a small Kocher clamp holds tension on the distal stump. (L, lateral; M, medial.)

Fig 15

The strands are secured into the calcaneus on the medial and lateral sides with two 4.75-mm SwiveLocks (Arthrex) while the foot is held in plantar flexion. Tensioning the Achilles in 5° to 10° more than the normal carrying angle avoids undertensioning and allows for the typical elongation that occurs during active rehabilitation. (L, lateral; M, medial.)