What does Achilles tendon surgery treat?
Achilles tendon surgery repairs a chronic painfully inflamed or ruptured Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon is the body’s largest tendon. It is a strong, cord-like tissue that attaches the calf muscles to the heel bone. The Achilles tendon lifts the heel and controls the foot’s movements when walking, running, and jumping. Achilles tendon repair or reconstruction surgery can eliminate ankle pain and restore function and stability to the foot in patients when walking, running, and jumping.
What to expect with Achilles tendon surgery
Achilles tendon surgery requires general anesthesia. This means the patient is unconscious for the duration of the procedure. Patients may need to follow specific advice around what to eat and drink, and what medications to take or not take, within a certain time period before Achilles tendon repair surgery.
The surgeon first makes a small incision in the calf. The surgeon then assesses what needs to be done. In the case of chronic tendinossis, the tendon is incised in damaged areas in the case of rupture, the surgeon stitches the torn tendon together, after first removing the damaged part of the tendon if necessary. If the Achilles tendon is very badly damaged, the surgeon may remove all or part of the tendon and replace it with tissue taken from elsewhere in the foot. In this case, the surgeon will make other small incisions to remove that tendon.