Augmented repair of acute Achilles tendon ruptures using gastrocnemius-soleus fascia

Fifty-four consecutive acute Achilles tendon ruptures were treated with end-to-end suture augmented with gastrocnemius fascial flaps. Surgery was performed within 24 h. Mean patient age was 35 (23-57) years, and 46 were men. Mean follow-up time was 4.8 (2-8) years. At follow-up, the mean visual analogue scale for pain was 0.49, and the mean AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was 95 (74-100) points. Fifty-three patients were able to stand on their tiptoes for 30 s and perform repeated toe raises, and 50 patients were able to perform single-limb hopping. Complications included rerupture in one case, deep infection in three cases, delayed wound healing in eight cases, and deep venous thrombosis in one case. Reconstruction of acute ruptures of the Achilles tendon augmented with gastrocnemius-soleus fascial flaps provided a good outcome but was associated with a high complication rate.