2025 ISAKOS Biennial Congress ePoster
High Rates of Return to Play with No Deterioration in Performance Following Acute Achilles Tendon Ruptures in Athletes Participating in the National Hockey League
James J. Butler, MB, BCh, New York, New York UNITED STATES
Rohan Phadke, BS, New York UNITED STATES
James Puleo, DO, Albany UNITED STATES
Kevin Michael Lehane, DO, New York City, NY UNITED STATES
Alan P. Samsonov, BS, New York, NY UNITED STATES
Andrew Rosenbaum, Albany, NY UNITED STATES
Sebastian Krebsbach, BS, New York UNITED STATES
John G. Kennedy, MD, MCh, MMSc, FFSEM, FRCS (Orth), New York UNITED STATES
NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, UNITED STATES
FDA Status Not Applicable
Summary
Athletes in the NHL who sustain acute Achilles tendon ruptures have an 88.8% return-to-play rate within 4.8 months and experience no significant decline in performance post-injury, indicating a manageable recovery with minimal long-term impact.
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Abstract
Introduction
The purpose of this study was to assess outcomes following acute Achilles tendon ruptures (AATR) sustained by athletes participating in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Methods
Athletes participating in the NHL who sustained an AATR were identified using a publicly available database, match reports and injury reports. The years of inclusion was from 2008-2022. Data collected and analysed: player demographics, player position, if surgical intervention was warranted, rates of return to play, time to return to play, games missed. Pre-injury and post-injury performance outcomes collected and analysed: games played, plus/minus rating, assists, goals, game-winning goals, penalty minutes, power play assists, power play goals, production, points, short-handed assists, short-handed goals, shootout goals, shooting percentage and time on ice per game.
Results
Eighteen athletes sustained an AATR in the NHL (0.000481 per 10,000 athlete-exposures). The mean age was 27.9±3.6 years and the mean BMI was 26.3±1.6kg/m2. There were 7 (38.9%) AATRs sustained by defenseman, 7 (38.9%) AATRs sustained by centers, 1 (5.6%) AATR sustained by right wings, 1 (5.6%) AATR sustained by left wings, 1(5.6%) AATR sustained by goaltenders and 1 (5.6%) AATR sustained by forwards. Seventeen athletes (94.4%) underwent surgical intervention. The mean number of games played prior to injury was 480.2±240.6. The RTP rate to the NHL was 88.8% at mean time of 4.8 ± 2.5 months. The mean number of games missed due to injury was with 45.1±19.4 games. There was no statistically significant difference in pre-injury performance outcomes compared to post-injury performance outcomes(p>0.05).
Discussion And Conclusion
This current study found that AATRs were an uncommon injury in the NHL with an incidence of 0.000481 per 10,000 athlete-exposures over a 14 year period. Sustaining an AATR was associated with a 88.8% return to play rate to the NHL together at a mean time of 4.8 ± 2.5 months with no deterioration in athletic performance. Although sustaining an AATR in the NHL poses a temporary setback, the findings of this study demonstrate that sustaining an AATR does not have a catastrophic effect on the NHL athlete's career.