Foot
Tendon Repair and Reconstruction
Dr. Benjamin Stein specializes in tendon repair and reconstruction of the ankle and foot. It is essential to understand how a tendon and ligament function and the differences between the two. Your tendons bind muscles to the bones of your ankle and foot, whereas your ligaments attach bone to bone.
- Tendons are fibrous connective tissues attaching muscles to your bones.
- Ligaments are also fibrous connective tissues, but they attach bone to bone and structurally hold your ankle together.
- Collagen makes both your ligaments and tendons.
- Ligaments join one bone to one bone.
- Tendons connect muscle to bone for function.
Ankle and foot tendons are highly complex and intricate related to the healing process. Dr. Stein’s primary goal is to help the healing process within the first forty-eight (48) hours of your ankle and foot tendon injury. You most likely are suffering from symptoms of swelling, burning sensation, and acute pain in the injured area.
Common Questions About Tendon Injury
- How long will it take for my tendon to heal?
- Will my tendon heal on its own?
- Will I be able to walk with a torn ankle or foot tendon?
Not all ankle injuries are sports injuries
You don’t have to be an athlete to twist your ankle and injure it. You can get a debilitating sprain from simply walking on an uneven surface. Remember, that ankle tendon injuries happen to anyone at any age including Achilles Tendon Injury. Did you know that every day, over 25,000 people sprain their ankle? More than 1 million people go to the emergency room every year because they have fractured or sprained their ankle. One of the most neglected areas of injury is the ankle tear or strain of your tendon.
Common Causes of Ankle Injuries
- Falling or tripping
- Jogging or walking on uneven surfaces
- The impact of a car accident
- Sudden rotation or twisting of your ankle
- Rolling your ankle
Tendon Repair Healing Process
It often takes around six (6) weeks for an ankle tendon repair to heal. Dr. Stein will want you to minimize any weight on your ankle and foot during the healing process. The bones must heal in proper alignment. Ankle and foot tendon injury is a common thing. Unfortunately, most people neglect adequate treatment from an orthopedic surgeon and hope their tendons will heal on their own. However, this is not the case. Your foot and ankles are made up of a very complex system of ligaments, bones, and tendons that all work together. If one of these is injured, it affects the function of the other.
How does Dr. Stein diagnose a tendon injury?
- Dr. Stein will ask you specific questions about how the injury occurred.
- Next, Dr. Stein will examine your ankle to assess the swelling and bruising.
- You may experience pain during the physical examination because Dr. Stein will need to move your ankle to determine the pain level to diagnose the injury accurately.
- An x-ray will show if there are any broken bones.
- If Dr. Stein thinks you have a stress fracture, he may order an MRI or another imaging test.