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 7 patients, 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.