A rupture of the Achilles tendon is unfortunately a common injury. In this case, the tendon tears like a hemp rope over a longer distance.
Treatment options
If the fibers of the Achilles tendon are well attached, the tendon can heal without surgery, sometimes surgery is necessary for this. There are advantages and disadvantages of both procedures, we will advise you about them in detail. After surgery, complications are rare, but the treatment of a wound healing disorder or an infection is very extensive for the patient and usually involves plastic surgery.
Results
With or without surgery, you will lose about 10-20% of your jumping power or sprinting speed. Very few patients can notice the difference a year after injury. No limitations are expected in everyday life, walking, jogging, fitness, etc. In younger patients and active athletes, surgery is more likely to be advised.
Treatment
The aftercare after surgery is identical to the treatment without surgery. In both cases, you will initially have a so-called pointed foot plaster cast, in which you cannot put any weight on the foot. After 10 - 14 days, you can change to the Achilles therapy shoe (Künzli shoe), in which a heel wedge is inserted.
In the heeled shoe you can put full weight according to the measure of the discomfort, a small plaster cast prevents the foot from going into the wrong position in the first 4 weeks. During the night you do not wear a shoe, therefore you have to use crutches for going to the toilet at night.
6 weeks after the accident, the wedges in the Künzli shoe may be reduced every 2 weeks. Change to normal shoes 3 months after the accident/operation.
Make an appointment with us so that we can find the best treatment option for you.
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