tendon transfer

[jul501]

hi everyone this is my first time here the problem i have is my husband had a complete rupture of his right achilles tendon in march 2009 he decided to heal the conservative way by Sept he was in so much pain  and no one would listen to him we looked for a second opinion and April 2010 he had his first op the surgeon removed the outer sheath of the tendon and shortened it by October 2010 it had degenerated and had to have another op where the surgeon took the tendon away and replaced it with his toe tendon as the weeks went on he had wound problems and much more pain than before to present day he has lost the ability to be active his foot swells and is a colour reddish/purple he has a lump where the new tendon is and has severe pain from his heal area up to the calf muscle that no longer exists  we are worried that this has failed can some one advise us any thing would be grateful

[Michael L Gross, MD]

Definite sounds like trouble. First, a word about "conservative" management for achilles tendon tears. Unless there is a compelling reason for avoiding surgery, it is almost always the first choice in treating these injuries. The post operative course is simpler, and the results are more predictable. The re-rupture rate with non-surgical management is so high, that it has made non-surgical treatment almost obsolete.
At this point, it sounds like yu have major problems. Both with the repair itself and the wound.  I would suggest immediate consultation with an orthopedist who specializes in foot and ankle surgery.

[jul501]

first i would like to thankyou for taking the time to respond we are waiting for a second opinion  nothing has changed with my husbands leg at the moment