The Rehasport Clinic is developing its own method of Achilles tendon reconstruction

23 March 2017

The Rehasport Clinic in Poznan is developing its own method of using a percutaneous surgical technique to treat large Achilles tendon defects. Over the past seven years, 20 patients have been operated using the innovative method. The results of the treatment were very good - the patients included athletes who returned to their careers in spite of earlier unfavourable predictions.

Doctor Tomasz Piontek, a specialist at the Rehasport Clinic, is the originator of an innovative surgical technique for the reconstruction of the Achilles tendon. This method proves very useful in difficult and often otherwise hopeless cases.

Together with my team we worked to improve the technique, because the earlier methods did not seem to work and often resulted in complications. Patients treated with our technique have had great results. They have all returned to full fitness and professional athletes are able to once again practice their disciplines. In some cases the results of the treatment exceeded our expectations

Doctor Tomasz Piontek, specialist in orthopaedics and traumatology of the locomotor system at the Rehasport Clinic

Over time, the technique was modified - to the extent that today it is completely percutaneous, and allows for an endoscopic plastic surgery of the tuber calcanei to be performed during the procedure.

In March, Prof Gino Kerkhoffs, President of the Dutch Arthroscopy Association and a renowned orthopaedic surgeon from the Academic Medical Center at the University of Amsterdam, conducted a joint study with the orthopaedic team from the Rehasport Clinic in Poznan.

Our joint study with Gino Kerkhoffs involved performing procedures on frozen specimens, and, in cooperation with the Poznan University of Technology, testing the biomechanical advantages of Achilles tendon reconstruction. Thanks to these tests we are able to ascertain the strengths and weaknesses of the method, but also improve the durability aspects. The results provide an insight into when we can allow the patient to walk with a full load and how to improve the fixation technique.

Doctor Tomasz Piontek, specialist in orthopaedics and traumatology of the locomotor system at the Rehasport Clinic

Other study participants included Dr Kinga Ciemniewska-Gorzela, Dr Andrzej Pyda and Dr Paweł Bąkowski. The cooperation between the specialists from the Rehasport Clinic and the Poznan University of Medical Sciences, the University of Amsterdam and the Poznan University of Technology will contribute to the global introduction of a modern, percutaneous surgical technique to treat large Achilles tendon defects. The procedures were performed at PoznańLAB, the Institute of Practical Medicine, one of the most modern centres of its kind in Europe, and the necessary implants were supplied by Smith & Nephew.