Background: The limited open Achilles tendon repair technique has recently gained popularity as a treatment option for acute Achilles tendon ruptures. This surgical technique video describes a limited open Achilles tendon repair without instrument guided assistance, demonstrating improved clinical outcomes for patients while also reducing reliance on operative equipment, cost, and the duration of surgery. Indications: The indications for this limited open Achilles tendon repair technique include an Achilles tendon rupture less than 6 weeks from injury occurring in the watershed area. Technique Description: The patient is prone and a 2- to 3-centimeter longitudinal incision is made over the Achilles tear. In the proximal stump, 3 nonabsorbable sutures are passed horizontally from proximal to distal direction. In the distal stump, the same is done in a nonlocking manner. The stumps are then reflected and the deep fascial compartment is released. The foot is plantarflexed to reduce tension on the repair site. The nonlocking sutures are tied sequentially from distal-distal to proximal-proximal direction. A running box suture using a nonabsorbable suture followed by 0-Vicryl around the rupture site is performed. Results: This technique has demonstrated, at a median follow-up of 3.7 years, restored pre-injury function along with no wound complications, re-ruptures, or re-operations in 33 patients. The median time from injury to surgery was 10 (range, 1-45) days and the mean time for returning to pre-injury level of activity was 5.6 (range, 1.7-22.1) months. After the procedure, patients demonstrated significant improvements in mean Foot and Ankle Disability Index (49.1-98.4), mean Visual Analog Scale pain score (4.8-0.2), and mean Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) subscales such as FAOS pain (54.8-99.2), FAOS symptoms (84.6-97.0), FAOS activities of daily living (61.4-97.2), FAOS sports and recreational activity (39.5-98.5), and FAOS quality of life (39.7-88.7). Conclusion: Patients who underwent a limited open Achilles tendon repair without instrument-guided assistance demonstrated significant improvements in outcome scores with minimal complications.

Background: Achilles tendon ruptures (ATR) can have devastating results for athletes in the National Football League (NFL). While many studies have examined the effects of an ipsilateral ATR, there are no reports on the impact of bilateral ATRs on NFL athlete performance. Methods: Publicly available online injury data for NFL athletes who sustained bilateral ATRs between the start of the 2007 season and the start of the 2021 season were queried using online news and sports analysis web sources. Results: After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 5 NFL athletes were identified. The findings demonstrated a significant difference in age at the time of each rupture (27.8 vs 30.4 years, P < .01) along with a decreasing trend in the number of Pro Bowl nominations following successive ATRs ( P = .027). There were no differences reported for the duration and number of games missed during either rehabilitation period following an ATR. Upon analyzing defensive NFL athletes, forced fumbles was the only performance metric that significantly changed across successive ATRs. Conclusion: Overall, bilateral ATRs can adversely impact an NFL player’s performance and further research should be performed to continue analyzing the effects of bilateral ATRs on these athletes. Level of Evidence: 4

Category: Sports Introduction/Purpose: Achilles tendon ruptures (ATR) can have devastating results for athletes in the National Football League (NFL). Although NFL athletes who suffer an ATR are successfully treated with surgery and rehabilitation, this potentially career- ending injury has demonstrated a decrease in return to play, playing time, and performance for athletes. With a mean career length of 3.3 years for NFL athletes, the ATR injury and subsequent 9 to 11 month rehabilitation period could adversely limit the impact athletes make both individually and at the team level. Although previous research has examined the effects of a unilateral ATR in athletes, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of bilateral ATRs on the health, productivity, and career longevity of NFL athletes. Methods: Publicly available online injury data for NFL athletes who sustained bilateral ATRs between the start of the 2007 season and the start of the 2021 season were queried using online news and sports analysis web sources. Inclusion criteria consisted of NFL athletes who sustained two independent, contralateral ATRs and exclusion criteria were NFL athletes who only sustained a single ATR or athletes who subsequently reinjured the same tendon. Specific dates for the first ATR (ATR1), return to play after ATR1, second ATR (ATR2), return to play after ATR2, as well as most recent game played were recorded. NFL preseason, regular season, and postseason (playoff, wild card, Pro Bowl, and Super Bowl) games were used to tabulate the total number of games missed or played. Descriptive and univariate statistics were performed. Results: When analyzing five NFL athletes with bilateral ATRs, mean BMI was 33.4+-4, an average of 5.8+-4 seasons were completed before ATR1, and three athletes currently play. There was a significant decrease in Pro Bowl nominations with each successive ATR (p=0.027). A significant difference was observed for mean age at tendon rupture when comparing ATR1 and ATR2 (27.8+-4 vs 30.4+-4 years, p<0.01). Rehabilitation periods after ATR1 and ATR2 (9.3+-2 vs.10.9+-2 months), as well as number of games missed during rehabilitation periods for ATR1 and ATR2 (9.8+-4 vs.12.8+-6) were not significantly different. The mean time period after returning from ATR2 was 22.0+-16 months, with a mean number of 39.3+-24 games played (Table 1). When analyzing performance metrics of four defensive NFL athletes, forced fumbles was the only defensive metric to demonstrate significant change across ATRs (p=0.02). Conclusion: This case series investigated NFL athletes who sustained bilateral ATRs, demonstrating a significant difference in age at the time of each rupture along with a decreasing trend in the number of Pro Bowl nominations following successive Achilles injuries. Upon analyzing defensive NFL athletes, forced fumbles was the only performance metric that significantly changed across successive Achilles injuries. This case series is the first study to review the effect of bilateral ATRs in NFL athlete performance and further research should be conducted to continue analyzing how these injuries affect the health, productivity, and career longevity of NFL athletes.

Category: Sports Introduction/Purpose: The limited open Achilles tendon repair technique has recently gained popularity as a treatment option for acute Achilles tendon ruptures. This surgical technique video describes a limited open Achilles tendon repair without instrument guided assistance, demonstrating improved clinical outcomes for patients while also reducing reliance on operative equipment, cost, and the duration of surgery. Methods: The indications for this limited open Achilles tendon repair technique include an Achilles tendon rupture less than six weeks from injury occurring in the watershed area. The patient is prone and a two to three centimeter longitudinal incision is made over the Achilles tear. In the proximal stump, three non-absorbable sutures are passed horizontally from proximal to distal direction. In the distal stump, the same is done in a non-locking manner. The stumps are then reflected and the deep fascial compartment is released. The foot is plantarflexed to reduce tension on the repair site. The non-locking sutures are tied sequentially from distal-distal to proximal-proximal direction. A running box suture using a non-absorbable suture followed by 0- Vicryl around the rupture site is performed. Results: This technique has demonstrated, at a median follow-up of 3.7 years, restored preinjury function along with no wound complications, reruptures, or reoperations in 33 patients. The median time from injury to surgery was 10 (range, 1-45) days and the mean time for returning to preinjury level of activity was 5.6 (range, 1.7-22.1) months. After the procedure, patients demonstrated significant improvements in mean Foot and Ankle Disability Index (49.1 to 98.4), mean Visual Analog Scale pain score (4.8 to 0.2), and mean Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) subscales such as FAOS pain (54.8 to 99.2), FAOS symptoms (84.6 to 97.0), FAOS activities of daily living (61.4 to 97.2), FAOS sports and recreational activity (39.5 to 98.5), and FAOS quality of life (39.7 to 88.7). Conclusion: Patients who underwent a limited open Achilles tendon repair without instrument guided assistance demonstrated significant improvements in outcome scores with minimal complications.