Achilles Tendon Surgery at Norwest Private Hospital Sydney
Achilles Tendon Surgery to restore plantar flexion.
The Achilles tendon is an important ligament of the leg which allows transfer of power from the calf to the foot. The main role of the tendon is to allow the foot to plantar flex or push down on the ground.
A ruptured Achilles tendon means a loss of function of an important foot movement. Ruptures can either be partial or complete disruption of the tendon. Surgery to repair the tendon will restore function to the foot.
What is Achilles Tendon Surgery?
Achilles tendon rupture repair surgery can be used to repair an Achilles tendon that has either completely or partially torn or ruptured. The surgery is used to reattach and reconnect the important Achilles tendon in the calf. Without a functioning Achilles tendon, you may be unable to push your foot off the ground and notice your foot become very flat. You may also notice a gap above your heels.
If you suspect you have ruptured or torn your Achilles tendon, it is advised to seek expert consultation as soon as possible. Delay in treatment can cause the tendon is heal more slowly or reduce the effectiveness of the tendon after-repair due to stretching.
Surgery is usually recommended for young and middle-aged patients and for those who are athletically active.
How is Achilles Tendon surgery performed?
Surgery is performed to reattach the two ends of the ruptured tendon by open surgery and strongly stitching the tendon back together. The sutures provide tension and stability and hold the tendon together until it is healed and then dissolves.
What are some risks and complications of Achilles Tendon surgery?
Before undergoing any surgery, an orthopaedic specialist surgeon will discuss risks and potential complications with you and answer any questions you might have.
Some risks include:
Wound infection: this occurs in less than 1% of all procedures and can be treated with antibiotics
Nerve damage: there is a small risk to losing sensation of the skin in area surrounding the surgical site, but this is very rare.
Blood clots: with any surgical procedure, there is a small risk of the blood clotting in the vessels causing pain and swelling. If you have known risk factors associated blood clots, the specialist may prescribe you with some blood-thinners during the recovery period. The risks are present but small. If you experience abnormal swelling and pain of the leg, please contact the specialist urgently.
Re-rupture of the Achilles tendon: A re-rupture of the Achilles tendon can occur if the muscle has not been given enough time to heal before strenuous activity is undertaken. Fortunately, the incident of re-rupture is relatively low at 2-5%. To minimalise risks of re-injury, please follow the recovery plan you are given by the physiotherapy.
How much does it cost to have Achilles Tendon surgery?
The costs to have Achilles Tendon Rupture surgery in Sydney depends on each individual treatment plan. Costs will depend on the treatment outcomes and complexity of the case presented. We provide full costs disclosure before initiating any treatments and therapies.
We accept most major private health insurance funding, and our knowledgeable staff can assist you with the health insurance claims process, but it is always helpful to contact your provider in advance to ensure that your insurance covers the orthopaedic procedure.
In most cases, you may be expected to pay a gap fee, but this is dependent on the cover of your private health insurance.
Associate Professor Roderick Kuo works only in the private health system and unfortunately does not maintain a public system list. However, some conditions may be treated with non-surgical methods such as physiotherapy that can be initiated after a consultation and review of your circumstances.
Here’s what to do next…
Research your condition and treatment options
We provide extensive information about Achilles Tendon Rupture on our conditions page.
Read our FAQ about Achilles Tendon Rupture Surgery below.
Do further research and contact us with any questions you may have.
Book a consultation with Associate Professor Roderick Kuo
Prior to your appointment, please obtain a referral from your General Practitioner. This will allow you to claim a Medicare rebate on the consultation fees.
Call or email our team at Specialty Orthopaedics to book your consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions about Achilles Tendon Surgery
-
You may be required to stay overnight in hospital after surgery.
-
Prior to surgery, you will be given general anaesthesia and a local injection around the operation area, so you remain pain-free during and after the surgery. During the recovery period, you may be prescribed some stronger painkillers to reduce any discomforts. In the recovery and rehabilitation period, you may experience some discomforts, but this can be managed with painkillers.
-
After the surgery is complete, your leg will be immobilized and placed in a plaster cast or hinged ankle brace. Afterwards you will be sent to the recovery unit and monitored for a period of time to allow the general anaesthesia to wear off and your body vitals to normalise. It is important at this time to report any discomfort, pain, or nausea you may have to the doctors as they can assess your need for painkillers or anti-nausea drugs when you are discharged.
You will be referred to a physiotherapist who will start you on a recovery programme. It is recommended that you follow the guidance of the physiotherapy programme as it will speed up your recovery drastically and allow you to get back on your feet sooner.
-
In the first week after the surgery, you should attempt to minimalise moving around unless necessary. This is to ensure the tendon is given enough time to heal without putting stress on it. Avoid wear-bearing on the operated foot.
Attempt to elevate your foot to the level of your heart to reduce swelling and take painkillers whenever you experience pain.
You may find some blood ooze at the site of the surgery which is normal. However, if you notice bleeding does not stop, please contact the orthopaedic specialist surgeon urgently.
-
For the first 8 weeks, you will have the foot in a plaster cast, splint or walking boot, and you should NOT weight bear. You may move around with the use of crutches, frame or knee scooter.
After 8 weeks, your muscles should have healed sufficiently to support weight-bearing independently. In most cases, normal function of the Achilles tendon should return by this time. However, it is important to undertake physiotherapy exercises to strengthen the muscle and regain use of the tendon.
After 6 months, you should be able to high-activity sports but should consult specialist advice before undertaking moderate to high levels of physical activity or sports.
-
Healing and recovery times are different for each individual person. In general, you should be able to return to work in 4 weeks if you mostly sit at work. You should allow for 12-16 weeks to recover if your work involves manual labour.
-
The typical follow-up appoints after you have been discharged is as following:
14 days after surgery
At the first appointment, the orthopaedic specialist surgeon review your condition at this appointment. You will need to remain in the plaster or hinged ankle brace.
8 weeks after surgery
At this appointment, your recovery progress will be checked, and you should be able to weight-wear on the foot without supportive devices and the plaster or hinged ankle brace will be removed. The specialist will check your tendon function and comment on your recovery. You should focus on physiotherapy exercises to regain your muscle strength.
14 weeks after surgery
This will be the final appointment to review your progress. You should return to full function by this time. If all is well, you will be discharged.Item description
Important: Information is provided for guidance only. Individual circumstances may differ and the best way to approach a condition is by individual medical consultation where a specialist can tailor a treatment plan to suit your needs.
Edited by Dr Roderick Kuo
Last updated: 5/5/24