🦶 Tendo-Achilles (T.A.) Reconstruction Surgery
🔹 What It Is
A surgical procedure to repair, reconstruct, or replace a damaged Achilles tendon.
It’s done when the tendon is completely torn, severely degenerated, or failed to heal with non-surgical treatment.

🔹 When It’s Needed
. Complete Achilles tendon rupture (often in athletes, sudden injury).
. Chronic Achilles tendon tear (neglected or untreated).
. Failed primary repair or tendon has re-ruptured.
. Severe degeneration (Achilles tendinopathy).
. Associated with infections or trauma where tendon quality is poor.

🔹 Types of Procedures
1. Direct Repair (if tendon ends are healthy and close together).
. Stitches are used to sew torn ends.
2. Reconstruction with Graft (if tendon is badly damaged or gap too big).
. Uses nearby tendon transfer (like FHL – Flexor Hallucis Longus tendon) or donor graft to rebuild the Achilles.

3.Augmented Repair
. Combines repair with synthetic grafts, tendon transfers, or reinforcement for strength.

🔹 Benefits
✅ Restores ankle strength & stability.
✅ Allows walking, running, and sports again.
✅ Prevents chronic weakness and deformity (like difficulty pushing off the foot).

🔹 Risks
⚠️ Infection.
⚠️ Wound healing problems (common due to poor blood supply near Achilles).
⚠️ Nerve injury → numbness/tingling.
⚠️ Re-rupture (rare if proper rehab followed).
⚠️ Stiffness or reduced ankle movement.

🔹 Recovery Timeline
. Hospital stay: 1–2 days.
. Non-weight bearing (cast/boot): 4–6 weeks.
. Physiotherapy: begins after immobilization (week 4–6).
. Walking normally: ~8–12 weeks.
. Return to sports: 6–12 months (depending on case & athlete level).