Background This study aimed to compare the operative outcome of percutaneous repair (modified Bunnell suture technique) versus open repair (bundle-to-bundle suture technique) of acute Achilles tendon rupture. Methods Seventy-two consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment of Achilles tendon rupture were evaluated in this prospective study. Thirty-six patients were treated using the bundle-to-bundle suture technique (group A), and 36 patients were treated using the modified Bunnell suture technique (group B). All patients underwent functional examination comprising measurement of the calf muscle circumference and performance of the single-leg heel-rise test. The length and diameter of the Achilles tendon were compared between the injured and uninjured sides on magnetic resonance imaging. The number of single-leg heel rises (height > 5 cm) performed within 15 s was compared between the injured and uninjured sides. The ankle range of motion was also recorded. The Achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scale score, and visual analog scale (VAS) pain score were used to evaluate the clinical outcome at 12 months postoperatively. Results A total of 61 patients were followed up. The mean follow-up duration did not significantly differ between group A (23.73 ± 2.81 months) and group B (22.61 ± 3.96 months). However, there were significant differences between groups in the heel-rise test (group A, 1.74 ± 0.96; group B, 2.37 ± 1.42) and length of the Achilles tendon (group A, 11.98 ± 1.64 cm; group B, 11.11 ± 1.74 cm). The calf circumference of the injured side was significantly larger in group A than in group B ( p = 0.043). The cross-sectional diameter of the Achilles tendon was significantly smaller in group A than group B. At final follow-up, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the ATRS, AOFAS score, or VAS score. One patient in group A had delayed wound healing, which resolved in 40 days. Conclusions Patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture treated with open repair (bundle-to-bundle suture technique) achieved a better clinical outcome regarding the heel-rise test and calf circumference compared with those treated with percutaneous repair (modified Bunnell suture technique). Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000035229 , 8/4/2020, Retrospectively registered.

Backgroup: To compare the operative outcome between modified Kessler suture method and Bundle-Bundle suture for the treatment of acute rupture of Achilles tendon. Methods: A consecutive series of 72 patients who underwent operation of Achilles tendon rupture were evaluated. Thirty patients were treated by the bundle-bundle suture method (group A) and 31 patients by modified Kessler suture (group B). Functional examination included measurement of calf muscle circumference, and a single-leg heel-rise test. The diameter of the Achilles tendon of the trouble side was recorded compared with the contralateral limb through the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). The number of single-leg heel-rise was recorded within 15s (height>5cm) compared with the uninjured side. The ankle joint range of motion is recorded. The evaluation form ATRS(Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score), AOFAS(American Orthopedic Foot And ankle Society) Ankle-Hindfoot scale scores and VAS( visual analogue scale) pain score were used to evaluate the clinical outcome after a minimum follow-up period of 12 months postoperatively. Results: 61 patients at 1 year following surgery. There was no difference in mean follow-up time between the two groups (group A: 23.73±2.81 months; group B: 22.61±3.96 months). There were significant differences between the groups in heel-rise test 1.74±0.96 in group A, 2.37±1.42 in group B. Compared with the group B, the calf circumference of the injured side was bigger in group A (p=0.043). The cross-sectional diameters of the Achilles tendon after open repair was significantly different from that after percutaneus repair. There were no significant differences in ATRS, AOFAS and VAS at the final follow-up between the two groups. One patients of group A experienced delayed wound healing, which resolved in about 40 days. Conclusions : Two suture methods can provide good clinical results. Bundle-Bundle suture is more effective in solving the shortcomings of traditional methods. It is a safe and effective method, and is worthy of promotion.

Background To explore the risk factors and develop a nomogram in order to predict surgical site infection (SSI) after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for closed pilon fractures (CPF). Methods A prospective cohort study with one-year follow-up was carried out in a provincial trauma center. From January 2019 to January 2021, 417 adult patients with CPFs receiving ORIF were enrolled. A Whitney U test or t test, Pearson chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression analyses were gradually used for screening the adjusted factors of SSI. A nomogram model was built to predict the risk of SSI, and the concordance index (C-index), the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used for evaluating the prediction performance and consistency of the nomogram model. The bootstrap method was employed to test the validity of the nomogram. Results The incidence of SSI after ORIF for CPFs was 7.2% (30/417): 4.1% (17/417) of superficial SSIs and 3.1% (13/417) of deep SSIs. The most common pathogenic bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (36.6%, 11/30). The multivariate analysis showed tourniquet use, longer preoperative stay, lower preoperative albumin (ALB), higher preoperative body mass index (BMI) and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) were independent risk factors of SSI. Additionally, the C-index and bootstrap value of the nomogram model were 0.838 and 0.820, respectively. Finally, the calibration curve indicated that the actual diagnosed SSI had good consistency with the predicted probability, and the DCA showed that the nomogram had clinical value. Conclusions Tourniquet use, longer preoperative stay, lower preoperative ALB, higher preoperative BMI and Hs-CRP were five independent risk factors of SSI after closed pilon fractures treated by ORIF. These five predictors are shown on the nomogram, with which we may be able to further prevent the CPS patients from SSI. Trial registration NO 2018-026-1, October /24/2018, prospectively registered. The study was registered in October 24, 2018. The study protocol was designed based on the Declaration of Helsinki and admitted by the Institutional Review Board. The ethics committee approved the study on factors related to fracture healing in orthopedic surgery. Data analyzed in the present study were acquired from the patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation from January 2019 to January 2021.

Background: This study was performed to compare the operative outcome between percutaneous repair (modified Bunnell suture) and open repair (bundle-to-bundle suture) for treatment of acute Achilles tendon rupture.Methods: Seventy-two consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment of Achilles tendon rupture were evaluated. Thirty-six patients were treated by the bundle-to-bundle suture technique (Group A), and 36 patients were treated by the modified Bunnell suture technique (Group B). Functional examination included measurement of the calf muscle circumference and performance of the single-leg heel-rise test. The length and diameter of the Achilles tendon were compared between the injured and uninjured sides using magnetic resonance imaging. The number of single-leg heel rises (height of >5 cm) performed within 15 s was compared between the injured and uninjured sides. The ankle joint range of motion was also recorded. The Achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scale score, and visual analog scale (VAS) pain score were used to evaluate the clinical outcome after a minimum 12-month postoperative follow-up period.Results: In total, 61 patients were followed up. The mean follow-up time was not significantly different between Group A (23.73 ± 2.81 months) and Group B (22.61 ± 3.96 months). However, there were significant differences in the heel-rise test (Group A, 1.74 ± 0.96; Group B, 2.37 ± 1.42) and length of the Achilles tendon (Group A, 11.98 ± 1.64 cm; Group B, 11.11 ± 1.74 cm). The calf circumference of the injured side was significantly larger in Group A than B (p = 0.043). The cross-sectional diameter of the Achilles tendon after open repair was significantly different from that after percutaneous repair. There were no significant differences in the ATRS, AOFAS score, or VAS score at the final follow-up between the two groups. One patient in Group A had delayed wound healing, which resolved in about 40 days.Conclusions: Both suture methods described in this report can provide good clinical results. The bundle-to-bundle suture technique is more effective for restoration of the Achilles tendon length and muscle function. This method is safe, effective, and worthy of promotion.