Results
REGRESSION
Demographic data such as age, body mass index, duration of symptoms, and sex were comparable between the groups at baseline (Baseline Demographics and Baseline/1-Year Outcomes.Abbreviations: AOFAS, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot score; VAS, visual analog scale.Median values with range are presented unless otherwise noted. Boldface indicates significance (The median follow-up time was 76.5 months (range 69-89). Seven patients had crossed over from nonoperative treatment to surgery, and 7 patients were lost to follow-up (For the main outcome, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, there were significantly better results in the group that received operative treatment and stretching (operative group) vs the group that received stretching alone (nonoperative group) at 6 years. These findings were consistent in the ITT, PP, and PPEC analysis (AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Score and VAS at 6-Year Follow-up.Abbreviations: AOFAS, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society; ITT, intention to treat; PP, per protocol; PPEC, per protocol excluding crossovers; VAS, visual analog scale.Number of patients in the analysis: Operative: ITT = 20, PP = 27, PPEC = 20. Nonoperative: ITT = 20, PP = 13, PPEC = 13.Linear regression analysis, grouping patients by ITT, demonstrated better MOxFQ scores in the operative group for the total score and all the subscores. For the PPEC analysis, only the total score showed significant differences. Remaining PPEC results and all PP results pointed in the same direction but were not significant (Manchester Oxford Foot Questionnaire at 6-Year Follow-up.Abbreviations: ITT, intention to treat; MOxFQ, Manchester Oxford Foot Questionnaire; PP, per protocol; PPEC, per protocol excluding crossovers.Number of patients in the analysis: Operative: ITT = 20, PP = 27, PPEC = 20. Nonoperative: ITT = 20, PP = 13, PPEC = 13.Beta coefficient showing the mean difference comparing the surgery group to the control group (reference).Ankle movement, measured by ankle dorsiflexion, showed no differences between the groups when measured with straight knee or with the knee flexed (Ankle Dorsiflexion and Achilles Complex Test Battery: 6 Years.Abbreviations: CTR, concentric toe raise; DCMJ, drop counter movement jump; ECTR, eccentric concentric toe raise; VCMJ, vertical counter movement jump.Results are analysed PP (per protocol).The Achilles complex test battery found differences between the groups in 2 of the 9 outcomes (