Tendon Repair Surgery Near You on Staten Island
When a tendon injury causes persistent pain, weakness, or the inability to move a joint normally, Richmond University Medical Center can help. Our full-service hospital helps patients find relief with advanced orthopedic care. Whether you are dealing with an acute tendon rupture, a partial tear, or a chronic tendon injury, we offer expert tendon repair surgery and treatment near you in Staten Island, New York.
Key Takeaways
- Tendons are strong fibrous cords that connect muscle to bone.
- When tendons are strained, partially torn, or ruptured, they can cause pain and weakness.
- Common tendon injuries affect the Achilles tendon, quadriceps and patellar tendons, biceps tendon, rotator cuff, and tendons of the hand and wrist.
- Richmond University Medical Center offers comprehensive orthopedic care, including tendon repair surgery.
What Is a Tendon Injury?
Tendons are tough, fibrous connective tissue that attach muscle to bone. When a muscle contracts, it pulls on the tendon, which moves the bones and causes the joint to move. While tendons can withstand lots of force, they can be injured by sudden trauma, repetitive stress, or the gradual degeneration that comes with age and overuse.
Tendon injuries fall along a spectrum of severity:
- Tendon strain: A strain is a stretch or minor tear that causes pain or inflammation. It leaves the tendon intact.
- Partial tear: This is when a portion of the tendon fibers is torn, causing pain, swelling, and reduced strength.
- Complete rupture: This is when the tendon separates. It results in an immediate loss of strength and function.
The severity of your injury affects your treatment and recovery timeline.
Tendon Locations
There are several major tendons that run throughout the body. Each is vulnerable to specific injuries, such as:
- Achilles tendon: This is the large tendon at the back of the ankle that connects your calf muscle to the heelbone. It is commonly ruptured during sudden push-off movements in running and court sports.
- Quadriceps and patellar tendons: These connect the thigh muscles and kneecap to the shin bone. They can rupture with forced knee flexion during a fall or landing.
- Biceps tendon: This attaches the biceps muscle to the shoulder and elbow. Proximal ruptures occur at the shoulder, often from repetitive overhead activity. Distal ruptures at the elbow typically result from sudden, forceful lifting.
- Rotator cuff tendons: These stabilize and move the shoulder and are vulnerable to both acute and degenerative tearing with age and overhead use.
- Flexor and extensor tendons of the hand and wrist: These control finger and wrist movement. They are commonly injured in lacerations, crush injuries, or forced hyperextension.
- Posterior tibial tendon: This supports the arch of the foot. Gradual degeneration can lead to flatfoot deformity and chronic pain.
Understanding which tendon is involved and the nature of the injury is essential for developing the right treatment plan.
How Do You Know if You Have a Tendon Injury?
Tendon injuries vary in symptoms depending on severity and location. However, there are several that are common, regardless of injury type. You should contact your physician if you have:
- Sudden, sharp pain at the time of an injury, especially if you hear a pop or snap
- Localized pain, tenderness, and swelling along a tendon or its attachment to bone
- Weakness or inability to move a joint through its normal range, such as difficulty pushing off the foot, extending the knee, or bending the elbow
- A gap or defect in the tendon, which may be visible or felt through the skin
- Bruising around the injured area
- Persistent pain and stiffness with activity that does not resolve with rest
If you are unsure whether your symptoms indicate a tendon injury, our orthopedic specialists will perform a thorough assessment.
How Do Physicians Evaluate a Tendon Injury?
At Richmond University Medical Center, your physician will use a combination of the following to determine the location and severity of your injury:
- Physical exam: Your physician will assess your strength, range of motion, and tenderness. They will also perform tests, such as the Thompson squeeze test for Achilles rupture and the hook test for distal biceps rupture, to help identify the injured tendon.
- X–rays: This radiographic imaging test helps your physician rule out bony avulsion fractures, calcium deposits, or joint abnormalities that may be contributing to your symptoms.
- Ultrasound: This real-time imaging tool helps your surgeon evaluate your tendon integrity. It can also be used to identify partial and complete tears, tendon thickening, and fluid around the tendon sheath.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This provides a detailed cross-sectional view of your tendon anatomy. It allows your surgeon to characterize the size and extent of a tear, the degree of tendon retraction, and the condition of the surrounding muscle.
Together, these findings give your team a complete picture of your injury. This look allows them to create a tailored treatment plan for you. Your team will discuss what they find and all available treatment options before they make a recommendation.
What Are Your Treatment Options for Tendon Injuries?
Your treatment depends on which tendon is involved, the severity of the injury, your age and activity level, and how long you have had symptoms. With Richmond University Medical Center, your physician will review all these factors and help you understand which approach is best.
Conservative and Nonsurgical Treatment Options
Many tendon strains, mild partial tears, and chronic degenerative conditions respond well to nonsurgical management. Conservative treatment is often the starting point for most partial injuries, and you may experience lasting relief without surgery. Nonsurgical options include:
- Rest and immobilization: You should stop doing activities that cause pain. You may have to wear a splint, brace, or walking boot to protect the tendon and allow it to heal.
- Anti-inflammatory medications: Nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce pain and swelling.
- Ice and compression: These help control swelling and discomfort.
- Physical therapy: This structured rehabilitation program helps restore your range of motion and rebuild strength in the surrounding muscles.
- Corticosteroid or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections: In some cases, injections may help reduce inflammation or support tendon healing.
The goal of conservative treatment is to help relieve your pain and allow the tendon to heal without surgery.
When You Need Surgery
If your symptoms do not improve or get worse, you may need surgery. Some signs you need surgery include:
- Complete tendon rupture: Most complete ruptures require surgical repair to restore the connection between muscle and bone.
- Significant loss of function: If you cannot walk normally, extend your knee, or use your hand for more than a few weeks, you will need surgery.
- Partial tears that fail conservative treatment: When a partial tear causes ongoing pain and weakness, surgery becomes an option.
Tendons that have been completely torn for weeks or months may retract and become difficult or impossible to repair. Early treatment often results in better outcomes.
Types of Surgery
At Richmond University Medical Center, we offer a wide range of surgical tendon repair options. They include:
Open Tendon Repair
Open repair is done through a direct incision over the site of the tendon injury. The torn ends of the tendon are identified, prepared, and sutured back together using strong suture material. An open repair allows your surgeon to see and access the injury fully, which makes it the standard approach for Achilles, quadriceps, patellar, and distal bicep tendons.
Minimally Invasive Tendon Repair
For certain injuries, minimally invasive techniques can produce comparable outcomes to open repairs, with smaller incisions, fewer complications, and a faster recovery. Your surgeon will recommend the right approach based on the specific tendon, the configuration of your tear, and your personal preference.
Tendon Grafting and Reconstruction
When a tendon is retracted or you lose tissue, it cannot be repaired directly. Instead, your surgeon may opt for tendon grafting or reconstruction. This involves using a section of tendon harvested from another site in the body (autograft) or from a donor (allograft). While this surgery is more extensive and has a longer recovery, it can restore function in cases where a primary repair is not possible.
What Is Recovery Like After a Tendon Repair?
Recovery after tendon surgery depends on which tendon was repaired, the complexity of the procedure, and your commitment to rehabilitation.
For most tendon repairs, you will need to immobilize the site after surgery to protect it while it heals. Depending on the tendon, this may involve wearing a cast, splint, walking boot, or sling for two to six weeks. You should contact your physician or visit the emergency room if you develop increasing pain, redness, warmth, wound drainage, or fever after surgery.
After a few weeks, you will start physical therapy. Your care team will monitor your progress and adjust your program as you start to heal. During this process, keep the following in mind:
- Progress is not linear. Soreness, stiffness, and temporary setbacks are part of the healing process.
- Do not return to physical activity too early because it could cause your tendon to re-rupture.
- It may take up to a year for you to regain your full strength.
Rehabilitation is a gradual process that can take a while. However, at Richmond University Medical Center, you are not taking the journey alone. Your orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist will give you specific milestones to meet along the way.
Receive Expert Tendon Repair Surgery on Staten Island
Whether you are dealing with a recent sports injury, chronic tendon pain, or a complete tendon rupture, Richmond University Medical Center is here for you. We will guide you through diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and long-term care, regardless of your age or activity level. Using advanced imaging, minimally invasive techniques, and personalized recovery plans, we help patients regain their strength and mobility, so they can return to their daily activities. To learn more about tendon repair surgery near you in Staten Island, NY, contact us today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tendon Repair Surgery
Do all tendon injuries require surgery?
No. Many mild tendon injuries improve with rest, bracing, physical therapy, and other nonsurgical treatments. Surgery is typically reserved for more severe injuries or persistent symptoms.
How long does tendon repair recovery take?
Recovery depends on the tendon involved and the severity of the injury. Some patients recover within a few months, while others may take up to a year.
Is physical therapy necessary after tendon repair surgery?
Yes. Physical therapy is a critical part of recovery. It helps restore your mobility, strength, and function after tendon repair.
