Achilles Tendon Repair

If you have a severe Achilles tendon injury, your best treatment option may be surgery from a podiatrist at EvergreenHealth.

Benefits of Surgery

Surgery can help:

• Decrease the chance of injuring or tearing your tendon again
• Increase your ankle's push-off strength
• Improve your ankle's range of motion

You may benefit from Achilles tendon surgery over nonsurgical treatments, which work best if you have a minor injury or you're not physically active.

Types of Procedures

Based on your specific condition, lifestyle, age, and other factors, your surgeon will recommend a procedure such as:

• Achilles tendon repair – Treats Achilles tendinitis, tendinosis, or rupture by removing unhealthy tissue and using stitches to repair the remaining, healthy tissue
• Achilles tendon transfer – Removes damaged tissue and then moves a healthy tendon to a new place to help a weak Achilles tendon

Least Invasive Approach

Whenever possible, your doctor will use a minimally invasive technique with small incisions. That means you may recover faster with fewer complications and less pain. Your procedure will likely be outpatient, meaning you'll go home the same day.

After Surgery

Your EvergreenHealth care team will put your foot and ankle in a cast or walking boot after surgery. Keep weight off your foot for as long as your surgeon recommends to protect it as it heals.

Surgical Complications

Work with us to help make sure you achieve a good outcome and prevent complications (unexpected issues). Contact your doctor if you experience any of the following problems after surgery:

• Difficulty healing your incision
• Nerve pain
• Rupture of the same tendon

Physical Therapy

Attend physical therapy to help heal your Achilles tendon. Skilled physical therapists will teach you exercises to strengthen your foot and ankle muscles and improve your range of motion, so you can start being active again.