Return to Sport and Physical Activity After Calcaneoplasty for Insertional Achilles Tendinosis

The primary aim of the present study was to examine the time required and the ability of a consecutive series of patients undergoing open calcaneoplasty with reattachment of the Achilles tendon to return to their preoperative level of sporting activity. The secondary aim was to evaluate the functional outcomes and complication profile of this procedure. Open calcaneoplasty was performed on 22 feet (14 left [63.6%] and 8 right [36.4%]) in 22 consecutive patients, with a mean age of 55.28 ± 9.17 years. The mean postoperative follow-up time was 21.5 ± 8.2 months. The time required to return to work and sports and the functional outcomes were recorded. Of the 22 patients, 70% were able to return to their preoperative level of sporting activity after open calcaneoplasty with Achilles tendon reattachment at a mean of 5.14 ± 3.76 (range 2 to 12) months postoperatively. All the patients were able to resume their preoperative employment status at a mean of 3.30 ± 1.73 (range 0.5 to 6) months. Statistically significant improvements were found in the short-form 36-item questionnaire, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society hindfoot scale, and visual analog scale for pain scores postoperatively. Most patients (72.8%) subjectively scored excellent or very good outcomes on a Likert scale for patient satisfaction. Most patients were able to return to their preoperative level of sporting activity after open calcaneoplasty with Achilles tendon reattachment, and they were all able to resume their preoperative employment status. In the present series of patients, the procedure resulted in satisfactory outcomes with statistically significant improvements in patient-reported functional scores and pain relief after surgery.