Evaluation of the Short-term Functional Outcome of Repair of Acute Extensor Tendon Injuries of Foot and Ankle.

Background: Extensor tendon injuries of the foot and ankle are common, and less literature is available regarding its outcome. Ours is an observational study that aims to evaluate the functional outcome of surgical repair of all extensor tendons of the foot and ankle.

Methods: The study was conducted over a period of 1½ years with extensor tendon injury that was repaired within 24 hours of injury. The patients were followed up for a minimum period of 6 months and the functional outcome was evaluated using the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score.

Results: A total of 30 patients were enrolled, and that included 15 patients in a prospective study and another 15 patients in a retrospective study. A total of 22 cases were followed up. The major tendons involved were extensor digitorum longus (60%) followed by a combination of 2 or more tendons (30%). Extensor hallucis longus and tibialis anterior were involved in 6.7% and 3.35% of cases, respectively. The mean follow-up was 16 ± 7.8 months, and the mean AOFAS score was 99.36 ± 2.1, with a range of 90-100. The mean pain score was 39.2 ± 9, with a range of 30-40. The mean functional score was 49.36 ± 2.17, whereas the mean alignment score was 10.

Conclusion: Extensor tendon injuries of the foot and ankle are common injuries that require active surgical intervention. Early repair with a good physiotherapy protocol was associated with excellent AOFAS score and a pain-free limb without deformities in the 22 of 30 patients who were followed up.

Level of evidence: Level IV, ambispective observational study.