A comparative study is presented of seventy-nine patients with rupture
of the tendo achillis, forty-eight of whom were treated surgically and
thirty-one, non-surgically. With one exception, all were healthy, athletic
individuals. Twenty-two per cent of the patients had an initial
misdiagnosis. The patients treated surgically were more satisfied with the
results of their treatment. Strength, power, and endurance as measured on
the Cybex II dynamometer revealed that the patients treated non-surgically
attained only 72 per cent of normal strength and 70 per cent of normal
power and endurance as compared with the surgically treated patients. Wound
complications occurred in only two patients and no reruptures occurred in
the surgically treated group, whereas there were nine rereptures in the
group not treated surgically.