Tendon Repair Surgery Specialist in Colmar, PA

Tendon repair surgery is used to restore the function of torn or damaged tendons. As strong, fibrous tissues, tendons connect muscles to bones, enabling movement and strength in our limbs and body.
 
When tendons are damaged due to injury, overuse, or trauma, they can lose their ability to properly transmit the force from the muscle to the bone, leading to pain, weakness, and reduced mobility. Tendon repair surgery is designed to fix these injuries by stitching the torn or severed tendon back together or reattaching it to the bone, allowing it to heal and regain function.
 
This surgical procedure is commonly performed on tendons in the hands, arms, legs, and feet, as these are areas most frequently affected by tendon injuries. A successful repair can restore normal movement and prevent long-term complications such as stiffness, loss of strength, or deformity.

Tendon repair surgery becomes necessary when a tendon is severely damaged or torn to the extent that it cannot heal properly on its own. While minor tendon strains and injuries usually heal with rest, physical therapy, or splinting, more significant tendon injuries require surgical intervention.
 
When a tendon is fully ruptured, surgery is often the only way to reattach the tendon to the muscle or bone. Some tendons, after years of overuse or repeated minor injuries, can degenerate or tear. This is often seen in conditions like rotator cuff injuries or tennis elbow, where long-term inflammation or damage can result in the tendon becoming too weak to function correctly without surgery.
 
If a tendon injury leads to significant loss of movement, strength, or flexibility, and conservative treatments like physical therapy fail to improve the situation, tendon repair surgery may be necessary to fully restore function.

Some of the most frequently surgically repaired tendons are:
 
● Hand and finger tendons – The flexor tendons, which allow us to bend our fingers, and the extensor tendons, which help straighten the fingers, are particularly vulnerable to cuts, lacerations, and overuse injuries. Injuries to these tendons can significantly impair hand function, making repair crucial.
● Achilles tendon – This important tendon, located at the back of the calf, is one of the most frequently injured tendons among athletes. A full rupture of this tendon can cause intense pain and an inability to walk.
● Rotator cuff tendons – The rotator cuff in the shoulder is made up of four tendons that are essential for shoulder movement and stability. Tears in these tendons, often caused by overuse or injury, can result in significant pain and limited range of motion, so surgery is commonly needed to restore shoulder function.
● Patellar tendon – Connecting the kneecap (patella) to the shinbone (tibia), this tendon plays a key role in leg extension and knee function. Ruptures in the patellar tendon, often due to sports injuries, commonly require surgical repair to restore mobility.

Tendon repair surgery procedures differ depending on which tendon is involved and how severely damaged it is. Tendon repair surgery may be done with local or general anesthesia, depending on the area and difficulty of the repair. Typically, tendon repair is performed as an outpatient procedure.
 
During the procedure, the specialist will create an incision in the skin over the injured tendon to expose the damaged area. The size of the incision depends on the location and extent of the injury, with smaller incisions used, when possible, to minimize scarring.
 
If the tendon is completely severed, the surgeon will stitch the two ends back together using strong, durable sutures. In cases where the tendon has torn away from the bone, the surgeon will reattach it using special suture anchors that secure the tendon back in place. After the tendon is repaired, the surgeon will close the incision with sutures. In some cases, a splint or cast will be applied after the surgery to keep the repaired tendon immobilized while it heals.
 
Tendon repair surgery is available at Lansdale Plastic Surgery. For more information, contact us today or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 2405 North Broad Street, Colmar, PA 18915. We serve clients from Colmar PA, Montgomeryville PA, Lansdale PA, Skippack PA, Harleysville PA, Hatfield PA, Blue Bell PA, and surrounding areas!