Originally Posted by
Orthoski
Just to add information, the choices are the traditional open vs. mini-open through about a half inch incision - true percutaneous was tried and has a high rate of nerve injury (sural nerve). Not every study shows an advantage to mini-open but the overall data suggests a lower wound complication rate which is the most feared complication after Achilles repair.
The mini-open allows you to get in a boot within two weeks but doesn't change the fact that the tendon still needs to heal. The key is functional rehabilitation where you move the tendon early, but that's different than coming out of the boot which makes some worry about stretching out the repair (studies show that a repaired Achilles can still stretch out for up to 6 months post-op which can potentially heighten weakness).
In summary, listen to your surgeon, don't rush it, it's okay if you're not out of the boot in 6 weeks (we put people in a boot with multiple wedges and start moving the ankle at 2 weeks and start partial weight bearing at 4 weeks, gradually wean the wedges, but purposefully don't get out of the boot to walk flat until 10-12 weeks to minimize stretching of the healing tendon), would have mine fixed with a mini-open technique but many have success with an open technique, and remember that Durant took a year to get back to play.
Heal up everybody!