Achilles Tendon Rupture Associated with the Use of Fluoroquinolones in Patients Over 60 Years of AGE: Experience From a Single Tertiary Centre

Abstract

Background: Fluoroquinolones have been associated with increased risk of tendinopathy and Achilles tendon rupture (ATR), especially in patients over 60 years of age.

Methods: A retrospective study was carried out including patients over 60 years of age with ATR attended in our centre over the period 2000-2017.

Results: We identified 44 patients with RTA, of whom 18% (8/44) had been previously treated with fluoroquinolones, with a mean age at diagnosis of ATR of 77.37 years and concomitant corticotherapy in 4 of them. In 7patients, the rupture was spontaneous and all required surgical management. A significantly higher frequency of smoking, concomitant corticotherapy and spontaneous ruptures were found in the group treated with fluoroquinolones.

Conclusions: ATR is an adverse event that can occur in patients over 60 years of age treated with fluoroquinolones, so an adequate risk-benefit assessment should be carried out in this population, especially in the presence of associated risk factors.

Keywords: Achilles tendon rupture; Ciprofloxacin; Ciprofloxacino; Fluoroquinolonas; Fluoroquinolones; Levofloxacin; Levofloxacino; Rotura del tendón de Aquiles; Tendinopathy; Tendinopatía.