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Tendo-Achilles injury: An observational study in a tertiary care hospital
Authors: Parvesh Malik1 , Shalendra Singh2 , Onkar Singh3 , Mannu Tiwari3 , Nipun Gupta2 , Munish Sood4
Number of views: 84
Objective: To report demographic and injury characteristics of
tendo-Achilles (TA) injury, and determine its association with
the use of Indian style commode seat (ISCS), the clinical and
functional outcomes.
Methods: This observational study was conducted between 1
January 2016 and 31 December 2019, and a total of 44 patients
with TA injury were included in the study. Their demographic
profile, etiology, operative details, and functional outcomes
were studied. All patients underwent primary repair followed by
standard postoperative management and follow-up for 6 months.
Results: Out of 44 patients, 7 (15.9%) sustained closed injuries
while 37 (84.1%) sustained open injuries. In open injury cases, 30
(81%) patients suffered an injury due to slipping in ISCS, 4 (11%)
from road traffic accidents, and 3 (8%) due to falling of a heavy
object. Besides, 20.45% of cases of ISCS injury had associated
neurovascular injury. Twenty (45%) patients took more than 90 days
to start independent ambulation. At 6 months follow-up, no one
could reach pre-injury fitness status.
Conclusions: Open TA injury by ISCS is an important, underreported, and preventable cause of loss of physically active
manpower in institutional setups.