Background
Acute Achilles tendon ruptures (AATR) that occur in athletes can be a career-ending injury. The aim of this study was to describe return to play and clinical outcomes of isolated endoscopic FHL transfer in active soccer players with AATR.
Methods
Twenty-seven active male soccer players who underwent endoscopically assisted FHL tendon transfer for acute Achilles tendon ruptures were included in this study. Follow up was 46.2(+/-10.9) months after surgery. Return to play criteria and clinical outcome measures were evaluated.
Results
All players returned to playing professional competitive soccer games. Return to active team training was at a mean of 5.8(+/-1.1) months postoperative. While return to active competitive match play occurred at a mean of 8.3(+/-1.4) months. Twenty-two players (82%) were able to return to their pre-injury levels and performances and resumed their professional careers at the same soccer club as their pre-injury state. One player (3.7%) shifted his career to professional indoor soccer. At 26 months postoperatively, the Tegner activity scale was a mean of 9.7 (+/-0.4), the Achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS) mean was 99(+/-2), while AOFAS score was a mean of 99(+/-3). No patients reported any great toe complaints or symptomatic deficits of flexion strength.
Conclusion
The current study demonstrated satisfactory and comparable return to play criteria and clinical results with minimal complications when utilizing an advanced endoscopically assisted technique involving FHL tendon transfer to treat acute Achilles tendon ruptures in this specific subset of patient cohort.