Treatment For Torn Achilles Tendon: Achilles Tendon Surgery

What is a torn achilles tendon?

With the achilles tendon are the calf muscles to the heel bone. It is a major tendon, where often large forces on. A weak achilles tendon can tear if you charge him. For example if you have a Sprint draw.

If your achilles tendon rips, it seems like someone you from behind a staircase or battle on your calf. You get severe pain low on the back of the calf or ankle. Then you can hardly walk.

To the bone is not much to see. Sometimes there is a dent in the skin. The doctor can feel the tear is often very clear. Further test the doctor or your achilles tendon still works. At a ruptured tendon, you can no longer lift your heel. Also moves your foot not if the doctor in your relaxing calf squeezes. Doubt the doctor, then they can make an ultrasound.

At a ruptured achilles tendon are two treatments:

1. plaster or tape to your lower leg;
2. surgery and then plaster or tape.

Discuss with your doctor what treatment is best for you.

You can usually return to normal after six to ten weeks. Only after three months you may slowly start exercising.

Treatment of a torn achilles tendon

At a ruptured achilles tendon are two treatments:

• Plaster or tape to your lower leg.

This keeps the foot keen. The peak position of the foot causes the ruptured tendon ends as much as possible, against each other.
The advantage of this treatment is that you no operation. The recovery often takes several weeks longer. also is the chance that the achilles tendon tear again larger than after surgery.

• Surgery under general anesthesia or with an epidural.

The intervention takes 30 to 45 minutes. The surgeon attaches the tendon ends together. You is on your abdomen. After surgery you will be plaster or tape to the lower leg. This continues for about six weeks. You will probably remain a night in the hospital.
The recovery after surgery is usually a lot faster. You can start practicing faster and should your leg earlier. The chance that the achilles tendon tears again is smaller.
Downside is that you have surgery.

What treatment is best depends on your age, your health and that you can, for example, many sports. With your doctor you can discuss the pros and cons of both treatments.

The first one to two weeks after treatment, you may not yet support on the foot. After two to three weeks you may move and the leg gradually more and more. You can usually return to normal after six to ten weeks. Only after three months you may slowly start exercising.

Risks in the operation of a ruptured achilles tendon

With every surgery there is a risk of complications. Similarly there are in the operation of a ruptured Achilles tendon the normal risks of surgery, such as thrombosis, pneumonia, a bleeding and wound infection. Fortunately, these complications are rare.