Acute Achilles Tendon Ruptures: Incidence of Injury and Surgery in Sweden Between 2001 and 2012. (October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huttunen, Tuomas T.; Kannus, Pekka; Rolf, Christer; Felländer-Tsai, Li; Mattila, Ville M.
• Is Part Of: American journal of sports medicine. Volume 42:Number 10(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 2419
• Page End: 2423
• Publication Date: 2014-10
• Subjects: Achilles tendon -- injury -- surgical treatment -- incidence -- epidemiology; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Sports injuries -- Periodicals; Orthopedic surgery -- Periodicals; 617.102705
• DOI: 10.1177/0363546514540599
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0363-5465

Abstract

Background: Population-based incidence rates and trends of acute Achilles tendon ruptures are not known. It is also not known whether recent high-quality randomized controlled trials not favoring surgery have had an effect on treatment protocols. Purpose: To assess the incidence of acute Achilles tendon ruptures in Sweden and to examine the trends in surgical treatment. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: We conducted a nationwide registry-based study including all adult (≥18 years of age) inpatient and outpatient hospital visits because of an acute Achilles tendon rupture in Sweden between 2001 and 2012. Results: We identified a total of 27, 702 patients (21, 979 men, 79%) with acute Achilles tendon ruptures between 2001 and 2012. In 2001, the sex-specific incidence of acute Achilles tendon ruptures was 47.0 (per 100, 000 person-years) in men and 12.0 in women. In 2012, the corresponding values were 55.2 in men and 14.7 in women, with an increase of 17% in men and 22% in women. The proportion of surgically treated patients declined from 43% in 2001 to 28% in 2012 in men and from 34% in 2001 to 22% in 2012 in women. Conclusion: The incidence of acute Achilles tendon ruptures in Sweden is increasing. The most probable reason for this increase is the rise in the number of older adults participating in high-demand sports. The proportion of surgically treated patients is decreasing most likely because of recent high-quality randomized controlled trials and their meta-analyses supporting similar results between surgical and nonsurgical approaches.