Achilles tendinopathy surgery may be considered for patients with persistent pain and dysfunction affecting the Achilles tendon when non-surgical treatment has not been successful. The aim of surgery is to address areas of tendon degeneration and improve function.
Mr Edward Dawe is a Consultant Foot & Ankle Surgeon specialising in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy, offering a range of surgical techniques tailored to the underlying condition and individual patient factors. Clinics are available in Chichester, Worthing and Haywards Heath.
Most patients with Achilles tendinopathy improve with non-surgical treatment. Surgery may be considered when symptoms persist despite an appropriate period of rehabilitation and continue to affect daily activities or sport.
The decision to proceed with surgery depends on the severity of symptoms, the pattern of tendon involvement and individual patient goals.
Calf tightness is a common contributing factor in Achilles tendinopathy. Surgical procedures to address this aim to reduce tension in the calf muscle and Achilles tendon.
There are several different techniques described, including proximal medial gastrocnemius release (PMGR), Strayer, Baumann and Hoke procedures, as well as Achilles tendon lengthening.
In the context of Achilles tendinopathy, PMGR is often an appropriate option as it allows targeted release of the gastrocnemius while preserving overall function.
Calf release procedures may be appropriate for a range of patients, including those who are active and wish to return to sport, as well as those with more general activity-related symptoms.
Compared to more extensive foot and ankle procedures, recovery is often more straightforward, although this varies between individuals.
As with all surgical procedures, there are risks associated with calf release procedures, although they are generally considered lower-risk when performed in appropriately selected patients.
For patients with more advanced mid-substance tendinopathy, surgery may involve removal of damaged tendon tissue and treatment of areas of degeneration.
The aim is to address the underlying pathology and improve tendon function.
In some cases, particularly where there is more significant tendon degeneration, augmentation with a tendon transfer such as flexor hallucis longus (FHL) may be considered.
This procedure is used to support the function of the Achilles tendon and is typically reserved for more advanced or complex cases.
FHL tendon transfer can be performed using different techniques, including open and arthroscopic-assisted approaches in selected cases.
The choice of technique depends on the pattern of tendon disease, the extent of degeneration and individual patient factors.
Achilles tendoscopy is a minimally invasive technique that may be used in selected cases to assess and treat certain aspects of Achilles tendon pathology.
It may be considered as part of the surgical management in specific situations depending on the nature of the condition.
Recovery following Achilles tendinopathy surgery is gradual and usually involves a structured rehabilitation programme.
The timeline for recovery varies depending on the procedure performed and individual progress with rehabilitation.
If you have persistent Achilles tendon pain despite rehabilitation or symptoms that are affecting your activity, specialist assessment can help determine whether surgical treatment may be appropriate.
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Goring Hall and
Nuffield Haywards Heath Private secretary: Nicole Murray Tel: 07856 521034 [email protected] |
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