Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42027405›Full record

ArticleFoot & ankle orthopaedics2026

Non-operative Treatment for Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture: Evaluation of Clinical Results and Tendon Lengthening on Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Toshito Yasuda, Kosho Togei, Ken Tanaka, Masatoshi Takashima, Hiroaki Shima, Shuhei Otsuki

Abstract read
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Article in Foot & ankle orthopaedics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Toshito YasudaFaculty of Nursing, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4777-6204
Kosho TogeiDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4783-7361
Ken TanakaDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4345-0737
Masatoshi TakashimaDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka, Japan.
Hiroaki ShimaDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Veritas Hospital, Hyogo, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4930-0007
Shuhei OtsukiDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2752-8484

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: In previous clinical studies of Achilles tendon (AT) ruptures, there are few reports measuring the AT length after conventional non-operative treatment without early functional rehabilitation. This study reviewed the outcomes of non-operative treatment for AT ruptures and assessed tendon length using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: Patients with acute AT rupture who underwent non-operative treatment were included in this retrospective study. In our department, conventional non-operative treatment without early functional rehabilitation is used to avoid excessive tendon lengthening in patients with AT rupture. Patients wore a below-the-knee cast and performed non-weight-bearing walking for 4 weeks. Subsequently, the cast was removed, and an ankle-foot orthosis was applied for 4-6 weeks. The mean follow-up period was 28 months. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot (JSSF) ankle-hindfoot scale and the AT Total Rupture Score (ATRS). The tendon length and morphology were evaluated using MRI. Results: Sixty-four patients (42 men, 22 women; mean age, 44 years) with acute AT rupture underwent non-operative treatment. The mean JSSF score and ATRS were 97 and 91 points, respectively. Among 43 athletes, 36 (83.7%) returned to their pre-injury level of sports participation. Tendon re-rupture occurred in 2 of 64 patients (3.1%). T2-weighted MRI revealed fusiform-shaped tendon thickening and homogeneous low-signal changes in all patients. The mean AT length measured by MRI after treatment was 66.4 mm. Conclusion: Conventional non-operative treatment without early functional rehabilitation has a low re-rupture rate and favorable clinical outcomes, and MRI findings indicated good tendon healing in all patients. In our non-operative treatment, tendon lengthening increased up to 6 months post-injury. Overall, these results indicate that casting and non-weight-bearing for 4 weeks may represent a safe and effective treatment option associated with limited excessive tendon lengthening and re-rupture. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective cohort study.

Indexed as

Achilles tendon ruptureMRInon-operative treatmenttendon lengthening

Identifiers

PMID42027405
PMCPMC13100388

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