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Hand and Thumb Specialty Centers
8715 Village Drive
Suite 504
San Antonio, TX 78217
Ph: 210-251-4362
drcoleman@thatsc.net






Ankle
Fractures
Hand
Wrist

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I can't believe this but I helped a friend push his car off the road and got a ruptured Achilles tendon for my efforts. Didn't know how bad it was until it was too late to repair. Now I'm facing major surgical reconstruction. What are my chances or a full recovery?

Adults of all ages can experience a rupture of the Achilles tendon. A simple event like running to catch a bus, stumbling on the floor, or playing with children can lead to this type of injury in the nonathletic adult. And yes, even helping a friend push a car can be an activity at the time of rupture. It is estimated that one-fourth of all acute Achilles tendon ruptures are missed resulting in a delayed diagnosis. Eventually, the acute problem becomes a chronic one that can no longer be repaired (by sewing the two ends of the tendon back together). Instead, tendon reconstruction is required. Evidently, this is where you find yourself today. Here's a little information that may help you. The torn end of a tendon is referred to as a "stump." In chronic ruptures, the ruptured end of the tendon pulls away or "retracts" from the bone. There can be a large gap between the end of the torn tendon and the place where it is supposed to attach to the bone. In chronic cases, the ruptured tendon stump is often thin and atrophied. It can no longer be pulled back up and reattached. That's when reconstruction surgery becomes the necessary treatment approach. But which surgical technique (there are several) works the best remains unknown. And recovery is often linked with severity of the problem, type of surgical management, and occurrence of complications after surgery. In a recent study, surgeons at a single-center reviewed the results of their 28 patients after using a tendon graft from the hamstring muscle to reconstruct the Achilles tendon. The patients ranged in age from 28 years old up to 66 years old. Two-thirds of the group were men and the remaining one-third were women. Patients in the case series were followed for two to three years. The mid-term results were reported based on improvement of overall function and rate of complications. Calf circumference and strength were also measured and compared from before surgery to after surgery. Outcomes of surgical management are summarized in a table. Twenty of the 28 patients had no pain after surgery. The remaining eight people had mild to moderate pain; no one reported severe pain. Daily activities were resumed by all but two patients. Some patients reported limited recreational activity. Only two people were bothered by shoes (usually the more fashionable, less supportive type of footwear). And in the end, 22 of the 28 patients were satisfied with the results. No one was dissatisfied; a few were happy with the results but had a few reservations. In terms of post-operative problems, there were no infections, nerve injuries, reruptures, or blood clots to complicate matters. There was significant overall improvement of symptoms and function. But the authors also reported that calf circumference of the affected side did not fully return and ankle plantarflexion strength (pointing toe downward or rising up on toes) did not recover fully either. It should be noted that the loss of full strength did not affect patients' ability to walk normally, rise up on toes, or return to work and recreational activities. The best approach to the surgical management of chronic Achilles tendon ruptures remains unknown. Using hamstring tendon grafts results in good clinical outcomes. The hamstring tendon is long enough to bridge the wide Achilles tendon gap. It is easy to harvest with quick recovery for the patient. The knee does not suffer significant loss of function in terms of strength and power. And the semitendinosus can grow back in time. The entire procedure can be done with minimally invasive techniques and few (if any) complications. Once you meet with your surgeon and find out more about the type of reconstructive surgery that is planned, you may have more questions. The information here about hamstring tendon graft will give you a starting point for discussion.

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