Surgical vs. nonoperative treatment for acute Achilles' tendon rupture: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BackgroundAcute Achilles tendon rupture (AATR) is common among young individuals. There are various management options available, including conservative treatment, open surgical repair, and minimally invasive treatments. However, the optimal treatment approach remains controversial.PurposeIn this st...

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Main Authors: Lei Fan, Yunan Hu, Leng Zhou, Weili Fu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Surgery
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2024.1483584/full
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author Lei Fan
Yunan Hu
Leng Zhou
Weili Fu
author_facet Lei Fan
Yunan Hu
Leng Zhou
Weili Fu
author_sort Lei Fan
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundAcute Achilles tendon rupture (AATR) is common among young individuals. There are various management options available, including conservative treatment, open surgical repair, and minimally invasive treatments. However, the optimal treatment approach remains controversial.PurposeIn this study, we conducted a thorough analysis of the existing literature to compare the clinical outcomes of surgical and nonoperative treatments for patients with AATR by conducting a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Study designMeta analysis; Level of evidence, 1.MethodsEligible trials randomly assigned adults with AATR to surgical or conservative treatment and assessed by three independent reviewers. We searched in PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library. The assessment of risk of bias was conducted by entering the data from each included study into the Revman computer program. Extracted data were meta-analyzed. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 test. Pooled results were expressed as odds ratios, risk ratios (OR), and mean differences (MD).ResultsThe meta-analysis included a total of 14 studies and 1,399 patients, with 696 patients receiving surgical intervention and 703 patients undergoing non-surgical treatment. The follow- up duration ranged from 12 to 30 months. The surgical group was found to have a significantly lower re-rupture rate (OR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.18–0.54; P < 0.00001), but also had a higher risk of other complications (OR: 3.28, 95% CI: 1.56–6.93, P = 0.002). The surgical group also had significantly abnormal calf (OR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.26–0.76, P = 0.03). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of returning to sports, ATRS, abnormal motion of foot and ankle, unable heel-rise, and torque for plantar flexion.ConclusionThe meta-analysis results indicate that surgical intervention for AATR is associated with a lower re-rupture rate, but a higher risk of other complications. Our assessment of life-quality and functional outcomes also suggests that surgery leads to significantly better outcomes in terms of sick leave, abnormal calf, and torque for plantar flexion. Based on these findings, we recommend that surgery is a preferable option for patients who have a higher risk of re-rupture and require a quick rehabilitation.
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spelling doaj-art-c7bbbfce8f0a4be29ac5ea9792b5ec872024-11-21T06:23:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Surgery2296-875X2024-11-011110.3389/fsurg.2024.14835841483584Surgical vs. nonoperative treatment for acute Achilles' tendon rupture: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsLei Fan0Yunan Hu1Leng Zhou2Weili Fu3Sports Medicine Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery/Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Cheng Du, ChinaSports Medicine Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery/Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Cheng Du, ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Cheng Du, ChinaSports Medicine Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery/Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Cheng Du, ChinaBackgroundAcute Achilles tendon rupture (AATR) is common among young individuals. There are various management options available, including conservative treatment, open surgical repair, and minimally invasive treatments. However, the optimal treatment approach remains controversial.PurposeIn this study, we conducted a thorough analysis of the existing literature to compare the clinical outcomes of surgical and nonoperative treatments for patients with AATR by conducting a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Study designMeta analysis; Level of evidence, 1.MethodsEligible trials randomly assigned adults with AATR to surgical or conservative treatment and assessed by three independent reviewers. We searched in PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library. The assessment of risk of bias was conducted by entering the data from each included study into the Revman computer program. Extracted data were meta-analyzed. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 test. Pooled results were expressed as odds ratios, risk ratios (OR), and mean differences (MD).ResultsThe meta-analysis included a total of 14 studies and 1,399 patients, with 696 patients receiving surgical intervention and 703 patients undergoing non-surgical treatment. The follow- up duration ranged from 12 to 30 months. The surgical group was found to have a significantly lower re-rupture rate (OR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.18–0.54; P < 0.00001), but also had a higher risk of other complications (OR: 3.28, 95% CI: 1.56–6.93, P = 0.002). The surgical group also had significantly abnormal calf (OR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.26–0.76, P = 0.03). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of returning to sports, ATRS, abnormal motion of foot and ankle, unable heel-rise, and torque for plantar flexion.ConclusionThe meta-analysis results indicate that surgical intervention for AATR is associated with a lower re-rupture rate, but a higher risk of other complications. Our assessment of life-quality and functional outcomes also suggests that surgery leads to significantly better outcomes in terms of sick leave, abnormal calf, and torque for plantar flexion. Based on these findings, we recommend that surgery is a preferable option for patients who have a higher risk of re-rupture and require a quick rehabilitation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2024.1483584/fullacute Achilles tendon ruptureconservative treatmentsurgerymeta-analysisclinic outcomes
spellingShingle Lei Fan
Yunan Hu
Leng Zhou
Weili Fu
Surgical vs. nonoperative treatment for acute Achilles' tendon rupture: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Frontiers in Surgery
acute Achilles tendon rupture
conservative treatment
surgery
meta-analysis
clinic outcomes
title Surgical vs. nonoperative treatment for acute Achilles' tendon rupture: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_full Surgical vs. nonoperative treatment for acute Achilles' tendon rupture: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_fullStr Surgical vs. nonoperative treatment for acute Achilles' tendon rupture: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_full_unstemmed Surgical vs. nonoperative treatment for acute Achilles' tendon rupture: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_short Surgical vs. nonoperative treatment for acute Achilles' tendon rupture: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_sort surgical vs nonoperative treatment for acute achilles tendon rupture a meta analysis of randomized controlled trials
topic acute Achilles tendon rupture
conservative treatment
surgery
meta-analysis
clinic outcomes
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2024.1483584/full
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AT lengzhou surgicalvsnonoperativetreatmentforacuteachillestendonruptureametaanalysisofrandomizedcontrolledtrials
AT weilifu surgicalvsnonoperativetreatmentforacuteachillestendonruptureametaanalysisofrandomizedcontrolledtrials