03/12/2019    

RELEVANT RESEARCH

Tourniquet Time Linked with Repaired Achilles Tendon Infection

 

Achilles tendon ruptures treated surgically had a low risk of infection and re-rupture, but these risks were greater in the presence of certain patient and surgical factors, according to study results. “Achilles tendon repairs are associated with a pretty low risk of infection or re-rupture,” Toufic R. Jildeh, MD, of the Henry Ford Health System, told Orthopedics Today. “However, patients with longer tourniquet times and higher estimated blood loss [EBL] and those who had a history of smoking were found to be at increased risk for surgical site infections [SSIs]. Moreover, patients with longer operative times and tourniquet times were also found to have a higher risk of re-ruptures.”

 

Among 423 patients who underwent surgical intervention for Achilles tendon ruptures between 2008 and 2014, the infection rate was 2.8% and the re-rupture rate was 1%. “With regard to infection, we found that those who were current or former smokers had about a 4% to 4.5% increased chance of superficial infections,” Jildeh said. He noted longer tourniquet times and greater EBL led to an increased rate of deep SSI, factors that could be increased by the hypovascular state of the patients’ Achilles tendons.

 

Source: Healio Orthopedics Today [January 2019]