{"doi":"10.1016/j.fas.2021.06.008","title":"Functional outcome of early weight bearing for acute Achilles tendon rupture treated conservatively in a weight-bearing orthosis","abstract":null,"journal":"Foot and Ankle Surgery","year":2022,"id":685225,"datarank":0.41588830833596724,"base_score":2.772588722239781,"endowment":2.772588722239781,"self_citation_contribution":0.41588830833596724,"citation_network_contribution":0.0,"self_endowment_contribution":0.41588830833596724,"citer_contribution":0.0,"corpus_percentile":null,"corpus_rank":null,"citation_count":15,"citer_count":0,"citers_with_citation_signal":0,"citers_with_endowment":0,"datacite_reuse_total":0,"is_dataset":false,"is_dataset_confidence":null,"is_data_producer":false,"deposit_databanks":null,"is_oa":false,"file_count":0,"downloads":0,"has_version_chain":false,"published_date":null,"fair_score":null,"fair_percentile":null,"algorithm_id":"datarank_citation_only_1hop_v6","ranking_scope":"data_only","authors":[{"id":1790217,"name":"L. Oliver","orcid":"0000-0003-3963-6383","position":1,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":1790218,"name":"P. Velazquez-Ruta","orcid":"0000-0002-0841-1694","position":2,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":1790219,"name":"B. Dhinsa","orcid":"0000-0003-0179-4845","position":3,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":1790220,"name":"C. Southgate","orcid":null,"position":4,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":1790216,"name":"R. Naskar","orcid":"0000-0002-6590-5439","position":0,"is_corresponding":false}],"reference_count":0,"raw_metadata":{"has_enrichment":true,"resolved":true,"title":"Functional outcome of early weight bearing for acute Achilles tendon rupture treated conservatively in a weight-bearing orthosis","abstract":"<h4>Background</h4>The optimal management for Achilles tendon (AT) ruptures is controversial and still continues to encourage debate. Conventionally, operative repair was favoured secondary to its lower rates of re-rupture, however in more recent years, we have seen promising results and a reduction in complications with conservative management. One reason for this improvement may be due to the introduction of a functional weight-bearing orthosis, however, results for complete AT ruptures is still unclear. This study aims to evaluate the functional outcomes of early weight bearing in a functional orthosis for conservatively managed, complete AT ruptures.<h4>Methodology</h4>This study was done at East Kent Hospital University Foundation Trust in between 2019-2020. In this prospective study, we have analysed data from 41 patients with US diagnosed compete AT ruptures, with a gap less than 5 cm. Every patient was treated in a functional weight-bearing orthosis (VACOped®) for 8 weeks with early weight-bearing following a specific treatment protocol, followed by rehabilitation with a trained physiotherapist. All patients received a final follow-up at 1 year post injury, where we recorded the following functional outcome measurements on each leg: calf girth, single leg heel raise height, single leg heel raise repetitions and the ATRS score.<h4>Result</h4>Our study population was predominantly male with an average age of 50 (range 22-79). The majority of the cohort were physically active, with more than 75% involved in a form of sporting activity pre-injury and 15% involved in higher level activity and competitive sport. The mean ATRS score was 82.1, with a re-rupture rate of only 2%. The average calf bulk difference was 1.6 cm, average heel raise height difference was 1.8 cm and a heel raise repetition difference of 6. There was a statistically significant correlation between ATRS score and calf muscle girth (p = 0.02). However, there was no significant correlation between ATRS score and heel raise height or single heel raise repetitions.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Early weight-bearing in a functional orthosis provides excellent functional outcomes for conservatively managed, complete AT ruptures, and is associated with very low re-rupture rates. However, a multidisciplinary approach with a guided rehabilitation programme is essential for optimising functional outcome.","is_dataset_classified":null,"base_score":2.772588722239781,"endowment":2.772588722239781,"datacite_reuse_total":0,"file_count":0,"downloads":0,"views":0,"has_version_chain":false,"is_dataset":false,"is_oa":false,"pmid":"34301483","pmcid":null,"openalex_id":"https://openalex.org/W3181180195","authors":[],"funders":[],"total_grants":0,"fwci":1.4291,"citation_percentile":0.7884446,"influential_citations":0,"citation_trend":[{"year":2021,"count":1},{"year":2022,"count":1},{"year":2023,"count":4},{"year":2024,"count":2},{"year":2025,"count":4},{"year":2026,"count":3}],"oa_status":"closed","license":"https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","oa_locations":[{"url":"https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S1268773121001387?httpAccept=text/xml","host_type":"publisher"},{"url":"https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S1268773121001387?httpAccept=text/plain","host_type":"publisher"},{"url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fas.2021.06.008","host_type":"journal"},{"url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34301483","host_type":"repository"}],"fields_of_study":["Tendon Structure and Treatment","Foot and Ankle Surgery","Sports injuries and prevention"],"mesh_terms":["Achilles Tendon","Acute Disease","Female","Follow-Up Studies","Humans","Male","Middle Aged","Orthotic Devices","Prospective Studies","Rupture","Tendon Injuries","Weight-Bearing","Ankle Injuries","Treatment Outcome","Recovery of Function"],"keywords":["Medicine","Achilles tendon rupture","Weight-bearing","Heel","Achilles tendon","Rehabilitation","Prospective cohort study","Surgery","Physical therapy","Tendon","Complete Tear","Functional Orthosis","Early Weight-bearing"],"sdg_mappings":[{"sdg_number":0,"sdg_label":"Good health and well-being"}],"linked_datasets":[],"clinical_trials":[],"software_tools":[],"database_accessions":[],"source":"live","citation_network_status":"fetched"},"created_at":"2026-08-18T16:03:24.468712Z","pmid":null,"pmcid":null,"fwci":null,"citation_percentile":null,"influential_citations":0,"oa_status":null,"license":null,"views":0,"total_file_size_bytes":0,"version_count":0,"fair_f":null,"fair_a":null,"fair_i":null,"fair_r":null,"fair_zscore":null,"fair_rationale":null,"fair_model":null,"fair_agent_version":null,"fair_fulltext_source":null,"fair_has_llm":null,"fair_computed_at":null,"clinical_trials":[],"software_tools":[],"db_accessions":[],"linked_datasets":[],"topics":[]}