If you are experiencing pain due to an injury to a tendon- the tissue which connects muscle to the bone, then you must be having tendonitis.
What is Tendonitis surgery?
Surgery, which is done to repair a torn or damaged tendon is called Tendonitis surgery or tendon repair surgery. Tendons are band-like tissues that connect muscles to bone. When the muscles contract, tendons pull the bones and make the joints to move.
When the tendon gets damaged or torn, movement becomes difficult and painful. Tendonitis surgery is recommended for those who have tendon injury leading to pain and restriction of movement.
What are the common reasons for Tendonitis surgery?
Tendon repair surgery is done to restore the normal movement of the joint involved and relieve the pain. Tendon injury is most commonly seen in joints like shoulders, ankles, elbows, knees, and fingers. It can occur due to a laceration or a cut that may go past the skin and the tendon. It can also occur while playing sports like football, wrestling, basketball, or rugby.
How to prepare for Tendonitis surgery?
You should discuss all your worries and doubts with your surgeon before you go for the surgery. The surgeon will give you all the instructions to make the surgery as successful as possible and it is important to follow those instructions.
The surgeon may ask you to:
- Take rest and avoid moving the injured tendon
- Avoid eating anything 8-10 hrs before the surgery
How is Tendonitis surgery done?
Usually, during the surgery, a surgeon will:
- Make small incisions in the skin over the injured tendon
- Sew the torn ends of the tendon together
- Make sure no other tissue has been injured like blood vessels or nerves
- Close the incision
- Cover the site with sterile bandages
- Splint or immobilize the joint so that the tendon starts to heal
In some cases, if the tendon has been damaged badly and there is not enough healthy tendon left to stitch it together, the surgeon may take a piece of tendon from another part of the body and use it as a tendon graft. This graft is then placed and stitched at the site of the damaged tendon. In order to make the procedure less painful, local or regional anesthesia is usually given, depending on the site of the surgery.
What are the risks involved in Tendonitis surgery?
Risks may include:
- Stiffness of joint
- Development of scar tissue
- Decreased joint movement
- Re-tearing of the tendon
- Bleeding and infection
How is the recovery after Tendonitis surgery?
Tendon repair surgery is generally an outpatient procedure and the patient can go home after the surgery. Healing of the repaired tendon can take up to 6-12 weeks and the affected joint needs to be supported with a splint or a cast to immobilize the joint for better healing.
The doctor usually advises physical therapy to restore the movement of the joint. However, the patient may experience some stiffness during the recovery time.
What is the outcome of the Tendon repair surgery?
Tendon repair surgery is usually very successful if followed by proper care as well as physical and occupational therapy. As a general rule, recovery is faster if the tendon repair surgery is done soon after the injury.