Achilles tendon rupture repair

If the Achilles tendon is ruptured, surgery should be performed promptly. The earlier the surgery is performed, the better the recovery effect will be. After the surgery, you should strengthen rehabilitation training, listen to the doctor's instructions, pay attention to diet, and prevent infection. Avoid falling during the recovery process. Generally, the foot cannot be used within three months, and the affected foot should be placed hard on the ground to avoid another rupture.

Achilles tendon rupture repair

Open Achilles tendon repair is done through an incision behind the calf to expose the Achilles tendon. After opening the paratenon tissue, the tendon ends were sutured together. There may be many different suturing methods here, and different doctors may have different choices.

If the condition of the Achilles tendon stump is poor, circumferential suture can also be used. At the end of the operation, the paratenon tissue and skin are closed and the wound is covered with a sterile dressing. At this time, a plantar splint should be worn to prevent dorsiflexion of the foot, which could cause further rupture of the repaired tissue.

Some doctors prefer to use a cast or anterior splint to achieve the same purpose. After the stitches are removed after 10-14 days, the affected limb can wear a fixed boot with a wheel, which can facilitate wound inspection and early joint movement. In all cases, careful soft tissue management and paratenon closure are also critical.

Postoperative recovery

Rehabilitation after Achilles tendon repair should begin 2-6 weeks after surgery. In order to protect the repaired Achilles tendon, the rehabilitation doctor must give some precautions. For example, passive stretching of the Achilles tendon should be prohibited within 12 weeks after surgery. In addition, the weight-bearing process should also be carried out step by step under the guidance of the surgeon. Throughout the postoperative rehabilitation process, the therapist must be aware of the four stages of Achilles tendon healing (inflammatory, proliferative, plastic, and mature).

The Achilles tendon is most vulnerable during the first 6 weeks of healing (inflammatory and proliferative phases) and slowly increases in strength over the next 6 weeks to 12 months (plastic and maturation phases). The patient's rehabilitation is a standard functional recovery process.