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Tendon repair

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Illustrations

Tendons and muscles
Tendons and muscles

Alternative names    Return to top

Repair of tendon

Definition    Return to top

Tendon repair is surgical repair of damaged or torn tendons.

Description    Return to top

Tendon repair can be performed a using local anesthesia (the immediate area of the surgery is pain-free), regional anesthesia (the local area and surrounding regions nearby the surgical area are pain-free) or general anesthesia (the patient is unconscious and the area is pain-free). An incision is made over the injured tendon. The damaged or torn ends of the tendon are sewn together.

If the tendon has been injured severely, a tendon graft may be required (a piece of tendon from the foot or toe or another part of the body is often used). If necessary, tendons are reattached to the surrounding connective tissue. The area is examined for injuries to nerves and blood vessels, and the incision is closed.

Indications    Return to top

The goal of tendon repair is restoration of normal function of joints or surrounding tissues following a tendon laceration.

Risks    Return to top

Risks for any anesthesia include the following: Risks for any surgery include the following: Additional risks include the following:

Expectations after surgery    Return to top

Most tendon repairs are successful, allowing full joint function.

Convalescence    Return to top

Tendon repairs can often be done in an outpatient setting and hospital stays, if any, are short. Healing, however, can take as long as 6 weeks, during which the injured part may need to be immobilized in a splint or a cast.

Postoperative therapy is frequently necessary to minimize scar tissue and maximize function after repair.

Update Date: 1/15/2003

Updated by: Andrew L. Chen, M.D., M.S., Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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