Achilles Tendon Repair Surgery in New Jersey – Dr. Nick

Introduction

Achilles tendon injuries limit mobility but are treatable. Expert care at New Jersey Foot Surgeons can restore your movement and help you regain an active lifestyle.

Key Takeaways

• The Achilles tendon is a crucial structure that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone, enabling essential movements like walking, running, and jumping.
  
  
• Achilles tendon injuries often result from overuse, sudden increases in activity, wearing improper footwear, or experiencing trauma such as falls or collisions.
  
  
• Tendon injuries manifest in various forms, including inflammation (tendinitis), chronic tissue degeneration (tendinosis), partial tears, or complete ruptures, each requiring specific care.
  
  
• Treatment for Achilles tendon injuries may involve non-surgical approaches or surgical repair, depending on the severity and type of injury.
  
  
• Surgical procedures range from open repairs to minimally invasive techniques, ensuring precise reconnection of torn tendons for effective recovery.
  
  
• Post-surgery care is vital for healing and includes immobilization, targeted physical therapy to restore strength and mobility, and regular follow-ups to monitor progress.
  
  
• Expert care at New Jersey Foot Surgeons combines advanced surgical methods and personalized rehabilitation plans, ensuring a safe and successful return to an active lifestyle.

Don’t let Achilles tendon injuries hold you back. Call New Jersey Foot Surgeons today at (732)-320-9173 to book an appointment and take the first step toward recovery.

What is Achilles Tendon?

The Achilles tendon, sometimes referred to as the calcaneal tendon, is a large and rather important tendon within the body. It fixates the calf muscles, particularly the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, to the calcaneus or heel bone. This tendon is not only the largest but also the most powerful one within the framework of the organism, which possesses impressive strength. It is very relevant in several movement tasks that necessarily require contact with the ground, including strolling, trotting, and leaping among others. It provides good force and elasticity which are vital, especially to runners and jumpers hence it is regularly referred to as the tendon of Achilles.

Common Causes of Achilles Tendon Injuries

There are several causes of Achilles tendon injury, and these are usually associated with certain lifestyles or physical activity levels. It is important in preventing or tackling the causes since knowing them would make it easier.

• Overuse: Gradual and consistent pressure the Achilles tendon undergoes during daily training and exercises, for example, running, jumping and other such activities can result in the damage of the fibers. In general, these laxities can add up and reach a condition where the tendon is sorely debilitated and compromised for the most part.

• Sudden Increase in Activity: Icing the Achilles Tendons can also be overworked when raising the regular intensity or frequency of exercising without proper warm-up or building up the muscles. This sudden strain can potentially lead to acute injuries or worsen the common microscopic lesions in the muscles.

• Improper Footwear: Shoes not offering adequate support or those not appropriate for the activity one is involved in also compound the risk of having Achilles tendon injuries. For example, jogging barefoot on hard surfaces or in old runners with poor cushioning or walking in high heels, changes the natural alignment and motion of the foot and ankle; thus, adding unnecessary stress to the tendon.

• Accidents and Trauma: Many causes involve the application of force or direct impact to the affected tendon, for instance; a fall or a collision may lead to partial or complete tendon rupture. Such kind of injury is usually fatal and acute, and thus, the patient needs the attention of the doctor.

Types of Achilles Tendon Injuries

• Tendinitis: This is a common health condition that usually leads to inflammation of the Achilles tendon which generally develops due to overuse. Tendinitis incorporates pain, inflammation, and joint freeze-up, which may be felt in the morning or after the client has been idle. It usually occurs in situations where there are repetitive calf muscle contracting activities assumed by athletes.

• Tendinosis: Unlike tendinitis, tendinosis refers to the degeneration of the tendon tissue without significant inflammation. This chronic condition results from long-term overuse and inadequate healing, leading to thickening, stiffness, and persistent pain. Tendinosis can significantly impair function and mobility if not properly managed.

• Partial Tear: A partial tear of the Achilles tendon is a condition where the tendon is only partly damaged, and the fibers are only slightly torn. This is considered a painful injury and the person affected by it usually experiences swelling and weakness in the affected leg. Anterior ITBs may be ruptured partly or fully, and it is often difficult to distinguish between acute injuries and chronic changes Thus, partial ruptures can be caused by acute trauma or be secondary to chronic deterioration, and repair of the damaged tissue may or may not require surgery.

• Complete Rupture: Complete rupture is a highly disabling injury in which the Achilles tendon is split and disorganized, thereby disconnecting the calf muscles from the heel bone. This kind of injury is common, especially during exercises that involve the use of a lot of force in a short time or sometimes involve changes in direction like sprinting or jumping. It incorporates symptoms such as sudden severe pain in the back of the ankle, inability to ‘propulsive off the affected leg,’ and a positive ‘thumb indent,’ where there is a gap felt by the thumb when passing through the gap of the tendon. Severe complete tears need surgical intervention to regain normal movement skills in the affected joint.

What happens during an Achilles tendon repair?

Achilles tendon repair is a surgical procedure typically performed under general anesthesia, ensuring the patient is asleep and comfortable throughout the operation. Alternatively, a spinal or regional anesthetic may be used, which numbs the leg while the patient remains awake.

During the procedure, a surgical incision, usually about 3-5 cm in length, is made on the back of the ankle, precisely at the level of the torn Achilles tendon. The surgeon carefully identifies and cleans the two ends of the ruptured tendon before stitching them back together. In cases where the tendon ends cannot be adequately reattached due to significant damage, the flexor hallucis longus tendon, another tendon from the leg, may be used to bridge the gap and reinforce the repair.

After the tendon has been successfully repaired, the wound is closed with stitches. To provide pain relief for the initial hours following the surgery, a local anesthetic is administered. The foot is then placed in a temporary plaster cast with the toes pointed downward, a position that protects the repaired tendon and facilitates proper healing.

Achilles Tendon Repair Surgery at New Jersey Foot Surgeons

Indications for Surgery

Surgery is typically recommended for:

• Complete Ruptures: The non-surgical treatment options are not adequate for total tendon breakage.

• Severe Partial Tears: In cases where other traditional treatment methods do not help to solve a problem.

• Chronic Tendon Issues: Some of the Conditions that may require surgical intervention include Major medical conditions that do not heal even with conservative treatment.

Pre-Surgery Evaluation

At our practice, we begin with a comprehensive evaluation, including:

• Medical History Review: You know about your health history and prior ailments or injuries that you have had in your lifetime.

• Physical Examination: Another factor is the duration taken to discover the true state of the injury, in combination with the discovery of the fake degree.

• Imaging Studies: Caring out an ultrasound, MRI scan, or X-ray to obtain a clear picture of the affected tendon.

Surgical Techniques

Our surgeons use the most effective medical procedures which are adapted to the necessary for every patient. Common procedures include:

• Open Surgery: Old fashioned technique where a long slip incision is made to get to the tendon and fix it.

• Minimally Invasive Surgery: It is less invasive as it requires the use of small incisions to minimize the time that is taken to heal fully, and the scarring is also minimal.

• Percutaneous Repair: Performs reconstruction in small portions as part of minimally invasive surgery.

The Surgical Procedure

• Anesthesia: Used to ensure that the patients are not in pain while going through procedures that are administered to them.

• Incision: Located in the center of the lower limb, at the back of the knee.

• Tendon Repair: They bring the cut ends of the tendon together and suture them. Surgical treatment of Achilles tendon rupture often involves using sutures to reattach the severed ends, but on some occasions, other tendons or artificial materials may have to be employed for reinforcement.

• Closure: Surgical procedures may be done, or the incision closed, and the leg immobilized in a cast or brace.

Post-Surgery Care

Recovery is a critical phase of the treatment, and we provide comprehensive postoperative care, including:

• Immobilization: For instance, the affected foot is placed in a cast or brace to facilitate the healing process.

• Physical Therapy: Although in some ways they are restricted, mobility is critical for regaining strength and flexibility. As professional Gate ministers, our therapists get to understand you as an individual and design a rehabilitation program suited to your preference.

• Follow-Up Appointments: Vigilantly patient follow-up to check on the healing progress and management of any complications.

Conclusion

Achilles tendon injuries can be challenging, but full recovery is achievable with proper attention and specialized medical care. At New Jersey Foot Surgeons, Dr. Nick Argerakis, a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon, leads our team with exceptional expertise. His advanced surgical skills and patient-focused approach ensure optimal care and successful outcomes for each patient.

With extensive experience in treating complex Achilles tendon injuries, Dr. Argerakis combines cutting-edge techniques with personalized treatment plans, including integrated physical therapy, to promote effective healing and restore mobility. If you’re experiencing Achilles tendon pain, trust Dr. Argerakis and our team to guide you on your path to recovery.