Closed treatment of Achilles tendon rupture.

In order to minimize rerupture after closed treatment of Achilles tendon rupture, the period of immobilization was prolonged from 8 to 12 weeks and an above-knee plaster cast was used the first 3 weeks. In 37 consecutive patients, followed for an average of 3 years, rerupture had occurred in two patients. It is concluded that modified closed treatment is a good alternative to surgical treatment.