Achilles tendoscopy for non insertional achilles tendinopathy. A preliminary study

Abstract

Background: To report the mid-term clinical results of endoscopic assisted surgery for patients suffering from chronic recalcitrant painful mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy who failed conservative management for at least 6 months. Methods: Descriptive and retrospective case series. Consecutive series of 11 patients, 6 men and 5 women, with a median age of 54 (range 40 – 67) years; 13 Achilles tendons with chronic recalcitrant painful mid-portion tendinopathy treated with tendinoscopy were included. Median follow-up of 87 (27-105) months. We report the symptoms duration, regular sports activity, treatment before surgery, complications and satisfaction after surgery, return to previous sport level, and postoperative VISA-A score. No tendon excision or transfer was performed at the time of surgery. All patients completed at least 20 sessions of supervised physical therapy and did not undertake impact sport activities for 6 months before surgery. Results: No postoperative complications were reported. Complete satisfaction was obtained in 10 out of 11 patients. The median postoperative VISA-A score was 100 (30-100) points. Conclusions: The mid-term results in patients with chronic painful mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy undergoing endoscopic debridement are satisfactory. Level of Evidence: IV.