Endoscopic Assistance in Minimally Invasive Repair of Acute Achilles Ruptures: A Prospective Observational Study Comparing Endoscopic-Assisted, Minimally Invasive, and Open Techniques
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Patient Population and Criteria
- Group A: endoscopic-assisted minimally invasive technique.
- Group B: M-G/MISI.
- Group C: open surgery (Krackow suture).
2.2. Statistical Analyses
2.3. Surgical Techniques
2.3.1. Group A—Endoscopic-Assisted Minimally Invasive Technique
2.3.2. Group B—Ma-Griffith with Minimally Invasive Small Incision (M-G/MISI) Technique
2.3.3. Group C—Open Surgery (Krackow Suture)
2.4. Post-Operative Protocol
3. Results
3.1. Return to Drive, Work Activities, and Sport Activities
3.2. Clinical Outcomes: ATRS and AH-AOFAS
3.3. Complications
- Group A: 2 patients presented minimal paresthesia at the surgical site, resolved after three months conservatively. One patient with paresthesia developed a DVT and was treated with low molecular heparin.
- Group B: 4 patients complained of paresthesia at the surgical site, 2 patients complained of ankle stiffness. No major complication was reported.
- Group C: Two patients needed revision surgery because of infection with associated failure of the tendon suture, 20% suffered from postoperative ankle stiffness (Table 4).
4. Discussion
Challenges and Limitations
- Learning Curve and Cost Implications
- Patient Selection
- Limitations
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
| AT | Achilles tendon |
| MIS | minimally-invasive surgery |
| M-G/MISI | Ma-Griffith minimally invasive small incision |
| BMI | body mass index |
| ATRS | achilles tendon total rupture score |
| AH-AOFAS | American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot Score |
| RTD | return to driving |
| RTW | return to work |
| RTS | return to sports |
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| Total | Group A | Group B | Group C | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N° patients | 94 | 30 | 30 | 34 |
| Sex (M:F) | 60:34 | 23:13 | 19:10 | 18:11 |
| Age (years) | 42.54 (18–78) | 43.32 (24–66) | 40.21 (18–69) | 43.35 (22–78) |
| BMI (mean values) | 26.63 | 26.54 | 25.00 | 27.12 |
| Follow-up (months) | 32 (24–60) | 32 (24–56) | 31 (24–60) | 31 (24–58) |
| Group A | Group B | Group C | p Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTD | 72.18 ± 15.9 | 66.00 ± 14.5 | 82.33 ± 18.1 | p = 0.013 |
| RTW | 44.24 ± 11.1 | 35.64 ± 8.9 | 51.12 ± 12.8 | p < 0.0001 |
| RTS | 202.83 ± 54.8 | 208.00 ± 56.2 | 219.00 ± 59.1 | p = 0.46 |
| Group A | Group B | Group C | p Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATRS score | 79.33 ± 11.2 | 87.64 ± 9.1 | 72.75 ± 13.4 | p < 0.0001 |
| AH-AOFAS score | 96.28 ± 6.6 | 96.44 ± 5.3 | 94.02 ± 7.3 | p = 0.41 |
| Total | Group A | Group B | Group C | p Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor | |||||
| Post-op paresthesia | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | p = 0.67 |
| Shoe discomfort | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | p = 0.83 |
| Major | |||||
| DVT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | p = 0.34 |
| Infection | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | p = 0.61 |
| Axono/neurotmesis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | p = 0.43 |
| Rate of reoperation | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | p = 0.16 |
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Ceccarini, P.; Donantoni, M.; Lucchetta, L.; Marinozzi, A.; Antinolfi, P.; Rinonapoli, G.; Caraffa, A. Endoscopic Assistance in Minimally Invasive Repair of Acute Achilles Ruptures: A Prospective Observational Study Comparing Endoscopic-Assisted, Minimally Invasive, and Open Techniques. J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14, 8117. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14228117
Ceccarini P, Donantoni M, Lucchetta L, Marinozzi A, Antinolfi P, Rinonapoli G, Caraffa A. Endoscopic Assistance in Minimally Invasive Repair of Acute Achilles Ruptures: A Prospective Observational Study Comparing Endoscopic-Assisted, Minimally Invasive, and Open Techniques. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2025; 14(22):8117. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14228117
Chicago/Turabian StyleCeccarini, Paolo, Marco Donantoni, Lorenzo Lucchetta, Andrea Marinozzi, Pierluigi Antinolfi, Giuseppe Rinonapoli, and Auro Caraffa. 2025. "Endoscopic Assistance in Minimally Invasive Repair of Acute Achilles Ruptures: A Prospective Observational Study Comparing Endoscopic-Assisted, Minimally Invasive, and Open Techniques" Journal of Clinical Medicine 14, no. 22: 8117. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14228117
APA StyleCeccarini, P., Donantoni, M., Lucchetta, L., Marinozzi, A., Antinolfi, P., Rinonapoli, G., & Caraffa, A. (2025). Endoscopic Assistance in Minimally Invasive Repair of Acute Achilles Ruptures: A Prospective Observational Study Comparing Endoscopic-Assisted, Minimally Invasive, and Open Techniques. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(22), 8117. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14228117

