Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy: Surgical Treatment with Double-Row Suture Anchors. Case Series
Abstract
Introduction: Insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT) that fails to improve with conservative management often requires surgical intervention. One surgical approach consists of resecting the retrocalcaneal exostosis, debriding intratendinous calcifications, and reattaching the Achilles tendon. The use of a double-row suture anchor system has been proposed to increase the tendon -bone contact area at the insertion site and enhance biomechanical stability. The purpose of this study is to report the clinical and functional outcomes of patients treated with this technique. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on consecutive adult patients who underwent surgical treatment for IAT using a double-row suture anchor system. Demographic data, time to return to work and sports, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, patient satisfaction, and complications were recorded. Results: Twenty-one patients were included, with a mean age of 55 years (range, 45 -63). Of these, 76.14% reported being very satisfied with the outcome. The average time to return to daily activities was 2.96 months, and the time to return to sports was 5 months. The mean VAS score decreased from 9.26 preoperatively to 2.5 postoperatively (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Surgical treatment of insertional Achilles tendinopathy with a double-row suture anchor technique is an effective option. It is associated with high patient satisfaction, early return to daily activities, full return to sports, and a low complication rate.Downloads
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