Achilles tendon surgery is done when the Achilles tendon in the back of the heel is torn in two. Achilles tendon surgery is the best way to prevent the Achilles tendon from tearing again. Surgery works much better than simple casing and recovery time from surgery is less than with casting. Achilles tendon surgery involves cutting into the leg, near the heel, repairing the torn tendon and sewing up the incision. Achilles tendon surgery must be done from one week to six weeks following injury. After six weeks, the surgery may not work as well as it would have if done earlier. Often, the surgeon will wait one week after getting a torn Achilles tendon in order to do the surgery so that the swelling will have a chance to subside.

When Achilles tendon surgery is complete, the physician will place either a cast or a boot on the foot in downward-pointed position son that the tendon can heel. The boot or cast must then gradually be adjusted until the foot is in a natural position. The doctor will also have the patient do some small restricted motion exercises after Achilles tendon surgery in order to decrease the time needed for healing and rehabilitation. Rehabilitation following Achilles tendon surgery may take several months before the tendon is strong enough to return to normal activities.

Heal Achilles Tendonitis Inflammation

Achilles tendon surgery is successful about seventy percent of the time. The definition of successful in this instance is that the patient is able to resume the sports activities that he or she was doing before the injury. Some stiffness may be present after Achilles tendon surgery but this is still considered successful. The sooner following injury the Achilles tendon surgery is done, the better chances for success.

Successful Achilles tendon surgery depends on various factors such as how experienced the doctor performing the surgery is, how damaged the tendon is, the length of time after injury that the surgery is done, what type of procedure the doctor uses, and how well the patient follows recommended rehabilitation techniques after Achilles tendon surgery. Before going through with Achilles tendon surgery, check whether your doctor is experienced in the technique and how successful his previous surgeries have been.

There are two types of Achilles tendon surgery to choose from. One is open surgery, where an incision is placed in the back of the leg and the tendon is then stitched back together. The other is called Percutaneous Achilles tendon surgery. This involves using several small incisions instead of one large one.

Percutaneous Achilles tendon surgery should only be done within one week following injury. Percutaneous Achilles tendon surgery used to be not as effective as open surgery but now, with recent advances, it is just as effective and has fewer complications than in the past. The advantage of Percutaneous Achilles tendon surgery over open achilles tendon surgery is that Percutaneous Achilles tendon surgery has less of a chance for wound healing problems than open sugery.

Get Rid of Tendonitis of the Achilles Tendon for Good

Open Achilles tendon surgery has the lowest rupture rate following surgery (2.7%) followed by Percutaneous Achilles tendon surgery (6.4%) and casting or splinting (12%). The disadvantage of using Percutaneous Achilles tendon surgery is that it may cause an entrapped sural nerve which may lead to additional surgery to repair. Recently, however, the rate for this problem has gone down so much that the chances of nerve damage happening with Percutaneous Achilles tendon surgery is practically nil.

Like in any surgery, there are some risks involved in Achilles tendon surgery. Risks include nerve damage, bleeding, medication side effects, skin infections at the site of incision, decreased range of motion, less strength in the injured Achilles tendon than before surgery, and the risk of another rupture following surgery (0%-4%).

If you have suffered a torn Achilles tendon, it is important to see your doctor right away. You should discuss whether surgery is right for you, check to find an experienced and successful surgeon, and follow whatever rehabilitation program that is recommended following surgery.

Achilles tendon surgery can be quite successful, with a shorter healing time than simple casting and a decreased chance for re-rupture of the Achilles tendon. You should discuss with your doctor the risks of Achilles tendon surgery verses the benefits in order to decide if Achilles tendon surgery is right for you. Remember that is important not to delay, because the sooner after rupture that you get the surgery, the better chance for success.
 

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