Table 1.
Baseline characteristics
| Plaster cast (n=264) | Functional brace (n=274) | Overall (n=538) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||||
| Female | 51 (19%) | 61 (22%) | 112 (21%) | |
| Male | 213 (81%) | 213 (78%) | 426 (79%) | |
| Age, years | 49·0 (14·0) | 48·3 (13·8) | 48·7 (13·8) | |
| ATRS pre-injury | ||||
| n | 264 | 273 | 537 | |
| Median (IQR) | 100·0 (96·5–100·0) | 100·0 (94·0–100·0) | 100·0 (96·0–100·0) | |
| BMI, kg/m2 | ||||
| n | 255 | 265 | 520 | |
| Mean (SD) | 27·5 (4·5) | 27·8 (5·0) | 27·7 (4·8) | |
| Days since injury | 5·0 (2·5–8·0) | 5·0 (2·0–8·0) | 5·0 (2·0–8·0) | |
| Mechanism of injury | ||||
| Fall from height | 3 (1%) | 8 (3%) | 11 (2%) | |
| Fall on steps or stairs | 22 (8%) | 14 (5%) | 36 (7%) | |
| Fall or trip from standing height | 6 (2%) | 11 (4%) | 17 (3%) | |
| Pushing an object | 18 (7%) | 15 (5%) | 33 (6%) | |
| Sports | 187 (71%) | 192 (70%) | 379 (70%) | |
| Walking | 14 (5%) | 28 (10%) | 42 (8%) | |
| Other | 14 (5%) | 6 (2%) | 20 (4%) | |
| Side of injury | ||||
| Right | 122 (46%) | 138 (50%) | 260 (48%) | |
| Left | 142 (54%) | 136 (50%) | 278 (52%) | |
| Regular smoker | ||||
| No | 225 (85%) | 234 (85%) | 459 (85%) | |
| Yes | 39 (15%) | 39 (14%) | 78 (14%) | |
| Missing | 0 | 1 (<1%) | 1 (<1%) | |
| Cigarettes per day | ||||
| n | 39 | 39 | 78 | |
| Median (IQR) | 10 (5–15) | 10 (5–15) | 10 (5–15) | |
| Smoking duration, years | ||||
| n | 38 | 38 | 76 | |
| Median (IQR) | 20·0 (10·0–25·0) | 20·5 (13·0–30·0) | 20·0 (10·0–30·0) | |
| Alcohol units per week | ||||
| 0–7 | 162 (61%) | 161 (59%) | 323 (60%) | |
| 8–14 | 49 (19%) | 65 (24%) | 114 (21%) | |
| 15–21 | 40 (15%) | 35 (13%) | 75 (14%) | |
| >21 | 12 (5%) | 10 (4%) | 22 (4%) | |
| Missing | 1 (<1%) | 3 (1%) | 4 (1%) | |
| Taking medication | ||||
| Fluoroquinolone antibiotics | 5 (2%) | 4 (2%) | 9 (2%) | |
| Steroids | 7 (3%) | 14 (5%) | 21 (4%) | |
| DMARDs | 2 (1%) | 1 (<1%) | 3 (1%) | |
| Diabetic medication | 5 (2%) | 14 (5%) | 19 (4%) | |
| Regular analgesia | 23 (9%) | 14 (5%) | 37 (7%) | |
| Anticoagulant medication | 66 (25%) | 78 (29%) | 144 (27%) | |
| Diagnosis before injury | ||||
| Diabetes | 5 (2%) | 18 (7%) | 23 (4%) | |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 0 | 3 (1%) | 3 (1%) | |
| Lower limb fracture (past 12 months) | 1 (<1%) | 4 (1%) | 5 (1%) | |
| Ligament, tendon, or nerve injury to lower limb (past 12 months) | 5 (2%) | 8 (3%) | 13 (2%) | |
| Arthritis | 21 (8%) | 21 (8%) | 42 (8%) | |
| Achilles tendinopathy | 10 (4%) | 10 (4%) | 20 (4%) | |
| Employment status | ||||
| Full-time employed | 160 (61%) | 168 (61%) | 328 (61%) | |
| Part-time employed | 18 (7%) | 15 (5%) | 33 (6%) | |
| Self-employed | 39 (15%) | 29 (11%) | 68 (13%) | |
| Retired, looking after home, or inactive | 35 (13%) | 41 (15%) | 76 (14%) | |
| Unpaid work | 1 (<1%) | 2 (1%) | 3 (1%) | |
| Unemployed | 8 (3%) | 8 (3%) | 16 (3%) | |
| Full-time student | 3 (1%) | 9 (3%) | 12 (2%) | |
| Missing | 0 | 2 (1%) | 2 (<1%) | |
| Employment category | ||||
| Unskilled manual | 11 (4%) | 11 (4%) | 22 (4%) | |
| Skilled manual | 62 (23%) | 64 (23%) | 126 (23%) | |
| Unskilled non-manual | 6 (2%) | 7 (3%) | 13 (2%) | |
| Skilled non-manual | 29 (11%) | 21 (8%) | 50 (9%) | |
| Professional | 109 (41%) | 108 (39%) | 217 (40%) | |
| Missing | 0 | 3 (1%) | 3 (1%) | |
Data are n (%) for categorical variables and mean (SD) or median (IQR) for continuous outcomes unless stated otherwise. ATRS=Achilles tendon rupture score. BMI=body-mass index. DMARD=disease-modifying antirheumatic drug.