Abstract
Insertional Achilles tendinosis results in isolated pain at the Achilles tendon insertion
site due to intratendinous degeneration. When conservative measures fail, surgical
treatment may be necessary. Radiofrequency coblation has been suggested to be an effective
procedure for treatment of tendon pathologies. Percutaneous execution of this procedure
is very simple as well as minimally invasive, and thus if effective, would be an excellent
alternative to an open treatment of insertional Achilles tendinopathy. A review of
47 cases with this percutaneous technique was conducted. In our relatively short-term
follow-up (mean = 8.6 months, SD = 9.71, range 1 to 40), the incidence of reoperation
was 14.9% (7/47). Rupture of the Achilles tendon was identified in 3 (6.4%) patients.
Our cohort had a relatively high body mass index (mean = 37.1, SD = 6.96, range 24.3
to 52.8). We recommend surgeons to be cautious about selecting this procedure in similar,
high body mass index patient cohorts for treatment of Achilles tendinosis.
Level of Clinical Evidence
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 13, 2012
Footnotes
Financial Disclosure: None reported.
Conflict of Interest: None reported.
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
