The Achilles tendon is the common tendon attachment of 3 important leg muscles. Achilles tendon tears are usually the result of a sudden injury, often during running or jumping activities.Signs and Symptoms of Achilles tendon Tears
Patients suffering from an Achilles tendon tear report the sudden onset of pain in the posterior calf and also hearing or feeling a ‘pop’. The pain may subside with time, but swelling and bruising follows the injury.
Patients also complain of pain and weakness with attempted walking or pressing the foot down.
Achilles Tendon Tears Diagnosis
The orthopedic surgeon would use a combination of the patient’s history and the findings of the physical examination to diagnose Achilles tendon tear. An X-ray can be obtained to rule out other injuries. An ultrasound or MRI scan may be used to determine whether the tear is a partial tear or a complete rupture.
Achilles Tendon Tears Treatment
The treatment of Achilles tendon rupture depends upon the age; health and activity level of the patient as well as the extent of the tendon injury (whether it is a partial tear versus complete rupture).
Non-surgical treatment consists of icing, anti-inflammatory medications, casting, activity modifications, physical therapy, and a gradual return to activities as tolerated.
On the other hand, surgical treatment consists of repairing the ruptured tendon edges back to each other with stitches. Surgery may be delayed for about a week after the rupture, to let the swelling go down. After surgery, you may have to wear a cast for 6 to 12 weeks. The total recovery time can be as long as 6 months.
For patients who are older, less active and suffer from severe medical problems which preclude safe surgery, non-surgical treatment is recommended.
Patients with partial tears that represent less than 50% of the tendon thickness can also benefit from non-surgical treatment.
For most active, healthy patients with complete tendon ruptures or partial tendon ruptures which represent more than 50% of the tendon thickness, surgical treatment is recommended. Surgical treatment should ideally be performed within 2 weeks from the date of the initial injury before the tendon and muscle begin to scar and shorten and make reattachment it to its native position more difficult.
Most people who undergo an Achilles tendon rupture surgery are able to return to all the activities they did before the injury, including returning to sports.
To set up a consultation with the top orthopedic surgeon in Phoenix, call Phoenix Shoulder and Knee clinic at 480-219-3342. Dr. Adam Farber is a Board certified, Fellowship trained and an experienced orthopedic surgeon in Phoenix AZ. He has a particular interest in treatments such as arthritis treatments and Achilles tendon tear treatment in Phoenix.