[No influence of physiotherapy on outcome after open repair of achilles XXXX ?].

@entity1 @entity397
AIM: Many studies have been performed to analyse the influence of surgical techniques and the postoperative aftercare after Achilles @entity397 on the outcome. However, there is no study investigating the influence of physiotherapy on outcome after surgical repair and standardised early functional rehabilitation of Achilles @entity397 , so that this was the objective of the present study. @entity1 AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 104 @entity1 with Achilles @entity397 , all treated by open repair followed by a standardised early rehabilitation, were evaluated by the Thermann score. The average age was 42 years. We could identify 3 @entity1 groups. Group I (n=23) did not receive any physiotherapy. Group II (n=41) received physiotherapy for 3-6 weeks, and group III (n=40) received more than 6 weeks of physiotherapy. Physiotherapy consisted of 3 units per week. Each unit lasted for 30 min. All groups were compared statistically via variance analysis. RESULTS: Group I scored on average 88.8 points, group II 88.6 and group III 87.0 points. There were no statistically significant differences between the three groups (p=0.50). The age of @entity1 had also no relevant influence on the outcome (p=0.48). CONCLUSIONS: Physiotherapy and age of the @entity1 involved were not found to influence the outcome after @entity397 followed by a standardised early rehabilitation. These results should be confirmed by a prospective randomised trial. Also elderly @entity1 participating in demanding sport activities should receive a surgical repair.
