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Achilles Tendon Tears in Adolescents and Young Adults

Background: Achilles tendon tears are rare in adolescents and young adults, and management of these injuries remains controversial. Hypothesis/Purpose: To describe long-term limitations and physical activity levels following full or partial Achilles tears in adolescents and young adults, and report rates of surgical management, complications, re-tears, and time to return to sports (RTS). Methods: We conducted a descriptive study of young patients (8-22 years old) who were treated for a partial or full Achilles tear at two pediatric hospitals between 2004-2018. Demographic, imaging, and treatment data were retrospectively collected. Patient reported outcomes were obtained including the Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score (ATRS), Foot and Ankle Outcomes Score (FAOS), Tegner Activity Scale (TAS), and separate questions about reinjury and return to sport. Results: Of the 41 eligible patients with Achilles injuries, 25 (61%; mean age 18.9 years; 40% male) had a minimum one year of follow-up data and were further analyzed. Twenty-three patients (92%) underwent surgical repair. Twenty patients (80%) returned questionnaires at a median 6.3 years (IQR, 3.4 to 9.7 years), while the other 5 patients were followed for a median of 1.8 years (IQR, 1.1 to 2.5 years). Twenty-two (88%) injuries were full tears, 53% (10/19) with reported location occurring mid-tendon. Median ATRS score was 96 (IQR, 82-100) and median TAS score was 6 (4-8). Median FAOS scores were excellent for symptoms (91), pain (100), ADL (100), and sports (98), and were good for QOL (88). The 6-month RTS probability was 47% (95% CI, 19-66%) and at 12 months was 95% (65-99%). The median time to RTS for partial tears was 5.6 months vs. 6.6 months for full tears (p=0.05). One surgical patient (4%) had a retear which required revision repair while 2 others needed additional surgery (1 - arthroscopy for ankle impingement, 1 - surgery for haglund’s deformity). In addition to the 3 surgical patients requiring re-operation, 8 patients experienced other complications (11/25 total complications, 44%), which included minor wound/scar complications (4), scar formation necessitating hydrodissection (1), Achilles tendonitis (2), and persistent pain following conservative treatment leading to surgical repair (1). Females were more likely to experience a complication (9/15, 60%) compared to males (2/10, 20%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.10). Conclusion: Adolescents and young adults surgically treated for an Achilles injury reported satisfactory long-term outcomes.