CONSERVATIVE MANAGEMENT OF ACHILLES TENDON RUPTURES.COMMON FEATURES OF VARIOUS PROTOCOLS OF FUNCTIONAL REHABILITATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

Introduction
The conservative management of the acure ruptures of the Achilles tendon remains the mainstay of
management of these options. Less frequently, surgical management if offered to patients with
complete rupture of the tendon’s body with no opposition of tendon’s ends >1cm (in passive
plantarflexion) and to patients with delayed presentation following their injury.
Aim
This study aims to present the common features of the various functional rehabilitation protocols of
the conservative management of the acute Achilles tendon ruptures in the United Kingdom.
Material & Methods
Retrospective review of the literature and various functional rehabilitation protocols of different
NHS Trust.
Results
Conservative management with functional rehabilitation protocols results in satisfactory outcomes
without significant difference in re-rupture rates and plantarflexion strength compared to surgical
management.
Conclusions
Latest evidence supports the conservative management of the acute ruptures of the Achilles tendon
with functional rehabilitation protocols, given the higher complication rates of surgical management
and the equivalent low re-rupture rates and similar plantarflexion strength.