Surgery

• Quadriceps
  
  
  • Unless the doctor is sure that the injury is a partial tear, surgery will be done to repair the tendon.
    
    
  • After your operation, you will be placed in a cast or immobilizer as if you had a partial tear.
    
    
  • With physical therapy, your injured leg should be up to speed with your noninjured leg in 6 months.
  
  
• Achilles tendon
  
  
  • Surgery to repair your Achilles tendon is recommended for active people who desire near normal strength and power in plantarflexion. An additional advantage with surgical correction is a lower rerupture rate of the tendon.
    
    
  • After your operation, your foot will be immobilized with your toes pointing downward for 3-4 weeks and then progressively brought into neutral position over 2-3 weeks before weightbearing is started. Surgery carries with it a higher risk of infection than closed treatment.
  
  
• Rotator cuff
  
  
  • Many surgeons will not attempt surgical repair until nonoperative treatment has failed, even in cases of larger tears.
    
    
  • Surgical treatment is usually reserved for a severe tear in a young person or in an older person (aged 60-70 years) who is suddenly unable to externally rotate their arm.
    
    
  • Acromioplasty, removal of the coracoacromial ligament and repair of the rotator cuff tendon, usually results in near full rotator cuff strength.
  
  
• Biceps
  
  
  • In young people unwilling to accept the loss of function and mild deformity involved with this injury, surgery is performed to repair the tendon.
    
    
  • Surgery is also considered for the middle-aged person who requires full supination strength in their line of work.
    
    
  • You should leave your arm in a sling for a few days after surgery and then begin to use the affected arm as tolerated. After surgery, your elbow flexion and arm supination is near normal in about 12 weeks.