EXPERIENCE WITH MANAGING OPEN ACHILLES TENDON INJURIES IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA.

Background: Achilles tendon injuries are very important injuries because the tendon transmits body weight to the ground. The complications of the management of Achilles tendon injuries are several and every method used in the repair is aimed at minimization or outright prevention of these.

Objectives: To determine the pattern, management and outcome.

Methodology: A retrospective study of patients with open Achilles tendon injuries managed at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Irrua, Nigeria over a period of 5 years. The data obtained included the demographics, clinical features, management options and outcome.

Results: A total of 52 patients were managed during the period under review comprising 28 males and 24 females with a male/female ratio of 1.16:1. The age range was3 - 70 years with a mean of 37.5+SD 13.58 years while the most affected age groups were the teenagers and the young adults with 33(63.5%) patients. Road traffic accident was the commonest cause, especially due to motorcycle accidents in 25(48%) patients. The other causes were due to machete cut in 11(21%), glass cut in 6(11.5%), broken bottles in 4(7.7%), broken toilet seat in 3(5.7%) and others in 3(5.7%). All the cases were unilateral; the injuries involved the right side in 32(61.5%) patients and the left in 20(38.5%) patients. The injuries were lacerations in 32(61.5%) patients, partial avulsion in 8(15.4%), crush injury in 7(13.5%) and complete avulsion in 5(9.6%) patients.

Conclusion: Open Achilles tendon injuries are not uncommon in our environment; the knowledge of the possible causes and early appropriate management will reduce complications.