The surgical ATR repair was performed by the surgeon scheduled on the day of surgery, and neither surgeon nor patient could influence these conditions. The study protocols in the RCTs included standardized anesthetic and surgical techniques.6 (link),24 (link)
Before surgery, local anesthetics with adrenaline was injected into the skin and peritendinous space. A longitudinal 5- to 10-cm incision was made in the dorsomedial part of the lower calf, followed by a midline incision in fascia cruris and paratenon. The tendon ends were then sewn together using a modified Kessler suture with two 1-0 polydioxanone (PDS II) sutures (Ethicon). The paratenon and fascia cruris were closed using Vicryl 3-0 (Ethicon) and the skin was closed using Ethilon 3-0 (Ethicon) single-interrupted sutures. No anti-inflammatory or thromboprophylactic drugs were given postoperatively.6 (link),24 (link)
Duration of surgery started when the scalpel was introduced to the skin and ended when the incision was closed.
To ensure that the protocol of the standardized surgery was followed, a review of the surgical reports was performed. It was recorded in the medical records whether the surgeon reported using 2 PDS II sutures, closing the fascia cruris, and closing the paratenon.
Before surgery, local anesthetics with adrenaline was injected into the skin and peritendinous space. A longitudinal 5- to 10-cm incision was made in the dorsomedial part of the lower calf, followed by a midline incision in fascia cruris and paratenon. The tendon ends were then sewn together using a modified Kessler suture with two 1-0 polydioxanone (PDS II) sutures (Ethicon). The paratenon and fascia cruris were closed using Vicryl 3-0 (Ethicon) and the skin was closed using Ethilon 3-0 (Ethicon) single-interrupted sutures. No anti-inflammatory or thromboprophylactic drugs were given postoperatively.6 (link),24 (link)
Duration of surgery started when the scalpel was introduced to the skin and ended when the incision was closed.
To ensure that the protocol of the standardized surgery was followed, a review of the surgical reports was performed. It was recorded in the medical records whether the surgeon reported using 2 PDS II sutures, closing the fascia cruris, and closing the paratenon.
