Why an operation?
The spontaneous progression is the gradual broadening of the rupture, resulting in greater discomfort, a tendon that is more difficult to repair and therefore a more uncertain result.
Orthopaedic treatment, that is, immobilization in a plaster cast for two and a half months, is possible. However, the risk of another rupture is high.
Surgery can be proposed for active or sporty patients, thus reducing the time immobilized, speeding up recovery and reducing the rate of relapse.
What is Achilles tendon repair?
The operation lasts about 1 hour, and requires around 3 days in hospital. The operation can be carried out under spinal or general anaesthesia. Your anaesthesiologist will decide with you the best type of anaesthesia according to your state of health.
After the operation, your foot will be put in a brace then a resin cast. The pain will be managed and monitored very closely during the post-operative period, and the treatment will be adjusted accordingly.
Post-operative rehabilitation and return to activities
You will wear the resin cast for 6 weeks. You will have crutches to help you move around throughout this period, putting no weight on your foot.
When the cast is removed, you will walk with a heelpiece of which the thickness is progressively decreased over 3 weeks. The rehabilitation will then begin at your physiotherapist’s. Normal walking is recovered at the end of the 2nd month.
Driving and returning to work can be envisaged in the 3rd month, depending on your profession; office work can be sooner.
You can resume gentle sports activities like cycling and swimming after the 3rd month. Running can be envisaged after the 6th month. It may be necessary to wait until the 8th month before a return to team sports and competition.
What are the risks and complications?
In addition to the risks associated with any surgery and the anaesthetic, there are some risks specific to this surgery:
- The skin may not heal well and require nursing care for several weeks, or even surgical revision.
- The occurrence of an infection, although rare (risk below 1 % in our establishment), is a serious complication and may require surgical revision and a course of antibiotics.
- A haematoma may appear around the area operated on due to bleeding. According to the extent of the bleeding, drainage may be necessary.
- The nerves and arteries around the ankle may be damaged accidently. This exceptional complication may cause pain, loss of feeling and even paralysis of certain parts of the foot. In the event of arterial damage, vascular surgery may be necessary.
- Small blood clots can form and block the veins in the legs resulting in phlebitis, which will require an anti-coagulant treatment for several weeks.
- Joint stiffness can develop if the post-operative rehabilitation is not carried out properly.
- Exacerbated inflammatory reactions can result in adhesions and limit ankle mobility. However, new treatments exist that can help manage this rare complication more easily.
This list of risks is not exhaustive. Your surgeon can provide you with any additional explanations and will be available to discuss the advantages, disadvantages and risks of each specific case with you.
What is the expected outcome of the operation?
In the context of a fresh rupture, the rate of tendon healing is over 95 %. The tendon is sometimes thicker. The risk of another rupture is below 5 %.
In the case of an old rupture, the rate of healing is pretty much the same but takes longer, thus delaying the return to activities.
The results of surgical repair of the Achilles tendon are nevertheless very encouraging as in over 90 % of cases patients return to sports activities at their previous level.