Background: Delayed wound healing is a kind of postoperative complication of Achilles tendon suture. Conventional surgical approach is open surgery in order to clean the wound, which requires multiple dressing changes and involves a longer recovery period. We recently developed arthroscopic surgery for delayed wound healing after Achilles tendon suture. This therapy may be an alternative approach to open surgery.~Purposes: In this paper we evaluate the long-term efficacy of endoscopic surgery for delayed wound healing after Achilles tendon suture.~Patients and Methods: Clinical data of 4 patients with delayed wound healing after Achilles tendon suture who underwent endoscopic surgery from April 2008 to October 2017 at our institute were retrospectively analyzed. There were 3 males and 1 females with age of 39-60 years, the follow-up period was 8-43 months). All the patients had unilateral tendon rupture with 3 cases on the left and 1 cases on the right. Scores on Visual analogue scale(VAS) and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Scale were used. The postoperative outcome was evaluated on the basis of Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles score and Achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS).
This study proposes endoscopic surgery for delayed wound healing after Achilles tendon suture which is a brand new treatment，and retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 4 cases treated with this treatment. The analysis results of the clinical efficacy of the method can serve as a reference for clinical and surgical decision-making and prognosis assessment.