Clinical application effect of biological amniotic membrane in minimally invasive repair surgery for acute achilles tendon rupture: a retrospective study

Acute Achilles tendon rupture is a prevalent sports injury that significantly affects athletes and active individuals, leading to impaired function and substantial economic burdens. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of biological amniotic membrane in minimally invasive surgical repair of acute Achilles tendon ruptures by comparing clinical outcomes between patients treated with the amniotic membrane and those who did not receive it. We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from 62 patients treated between 2021 and 2024, with 30 patients in the biological amniotic membrane group and 32 in the control group. The postoperative rehabilitation protocol was identical in both groups.We recorded complication rate, the time for returning to sports, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score(AOFAS), Achilles tendon Total Rupture Score (ATRS). Compare the results between the 2 groups. No significant differences were observed in operative time or hospital stay between the control and amniotic membrane groups. Regarding functional outcomes, the amniotic membrane group demonstrated significantly higher AOFAS scores at 3 and 6 months postoperatively ( P < 0.05). Similarly, this group also showed superior ATRS scores at the 3-month follow-up and less time for returning to sports compared to the control group ( P < 0.05). However, in subsequent follow-up assessments, no significant differences were found between the two groups in any of the functional scoring metrics( P > 0.05). Each group recorded 1 complication. Our findings suggest that biological amniotic membrane may effectively enhance early functional recovery in patients undergoing minimally invasive surgical repair for acute Achilles tendon ruptures. Future research should focus on elucidating the mechanisms of action of the amniotic membrane to further refine tendon repair strategies.