Achilles tendon rupture repair
Achilles tendon rupture repair is an operation to reconnect the torn ends of the Achilles tendon, helping to restore strength and movement in your foot and ankle.
Achilles tendon rupture repair overview
The Achilles tendon is the strong band of tissue that connects your calf muscles to your heel bone. It helps you lift your heel from the ground when you walk, run or jump. If the tendon tears completely, surgery may be recommended to bring the torn ends back together. Your specialist will discuss whether surgery is right for you based on the type of tear, your health and the activities you hope to return to.
How is surgery carried out?
The operation is usually performed under a general anaesthetic. You may also have an injection around the area to help control pain after surgery.
Your surgeon will bring the torn ends of the tendon together and secure them with strong stitches. Your foot will then be protected in a plaster cast or supportive boot while the tendon begins to heal.
Are there any risks?
Most people recover well, but every operation carries some risks. These can include:
- Infection or problems with wound healing
- Damage to a nearby nerve, which may cause numbness
- A blood clot in the leg (deep vein thrombosis or DVT)
- Stiffness, weakness or ongoing pain
- The tendon tearing again
Your specialist will explain these risks and the steps taken to reduce them before your operation.
Recovery from Achilles tendon rupture repair
Protecting the repair
Your leg will usually be protected in a plaster cast and you may be asked not to put weight through it. Keep your foot raised as much as possible to help reduce pain and swelling.
Gradually increasing movement
Your wound will be checked and you may move into a supportive boot. With guidance from your specialist and physiotherapist, you will gradually begin putting weight through your foot and working on movement.
Returning to full activity/sport
Strength and confidence will continue to improve over several months. Returning to high-level sport often takes around six to nine months, although your individual recovery may be shorter or longer.
Working with foot and ankle professionals and teams
Our foot and ankle specialists support professional athletes, sports teams, active individuals and people whose work places high demands on their feet and ankles. Working closely with radiologists, physiotherapists and the wider multidisciplinary team, they provide coordinated care from diagnosis through to rehabilitation, helping each person return safely to sport, work or everyday activities.
The same specialist expertise and collaborative approach are available to every patient, whatever your activity level or recovery goals.
Our Experts - Leaders in Foot and Ankle treatment
How to pay
We offer flexible options depending on how you choose to access care at Fortius. Whichever option you choose, we’ll help make the process clear and straightforward from the start.
Private medical insurance
If your care is covered by private medical insurance, we’ll usually invoice your insurer directly. Please check your policy in advance and request an authorisation code if your insurer requires one. You’ll be responsible for paying any policy excess or costs that aren’t covered by your insurance.
Paying for yourself
You don’t need private medical insurance to access care at Fortius. If you’re paying for your own treatment, our team will explain the costs clearly and provide a personalised quote before you decide whether to go ahead.
Achilles tendon rupture repair FAQs
You must be out of your cast or boot and able to control the vehicle safely, including performing an emergency stop without pain or hesitation. This often takes at least 10 weeks, but you should ask your specialist and check that your insurer is happy for you to drive.
This depends on your job and how you travel to work. You may be able to return to a desk-based role after around four weeks if you can keep your foot raised. A physical job may require 12–16 weeks away from work.
Returning to sport usually takes around six to nine months. Your physiotherapist will help you rebuild calf strength, balance and control before you return safely.
Find a clinic near you
Fortius Clinic Marylebone Wing
Our 79,000 sq ft, seven-story, private hospital on Wigmore Street has 39 en-suite inpatient rooms, consultation and treatment rooms, and a physiotherapy suite.
The hospital has a high-spec imaging suite fully equipped with an MRI, CT scanner and X-ray machine. There are three state-of-the-art operating theatres, two anaesthetic rooms and a recovery bay.
Fortius Clinic London has two Mako robots for hip and knee joint replacements.
- 66 Wigmore StreetW1U 2SB
- +442031952442
- Open 24 hours
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- CT guided injection
- MRI Scan
- CT Scan
Fortius Clinic City
Our City Clinic is conveniently located between Bank and Monument stations, within the historic and financial heart of London. At our modern, two-floor facility we have nine consulting rooms, spacious waiting areas, well equipped treatment rooms and an imaging centre.
Explore our City Clinic with our virtual tour.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground stations are Bank and Monument, exit 6 for King William Street.
Should you be travelling by car, the closest parking is a three minute drive away at NCP Car Park London Vintry Thames Exchange. If you are attending clinic on a weekday, please be aware that we are based in the congestion charge zone.
- 75 King William StreetEC4N 7BE
- 0203 195 2442
- Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm.
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- MRI Scan
Fortius Clinic Wimbledon
Our Wimbledon clinic houses a state-of-the-art imaging centre with a 3T MRI and X-ray scanners, Ultrasound, seven consulting rooms, two spacious waiting areas and well equipped treatment rooms all located on one level, ensuring easy accessibility for all patients.
Our partnership with Spire St Anthony’s Hospital allows us to provide orthopaedic surgery closer to our clinic. We treat a full range of conditions and perform joint replacement surgery using the latest Mako robotic assisted technology.
Take a tour of our clinic virtually through Google 360 views here.
We are open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm, and Saturday mornings from 8.30am to 12.30pm.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground station is Wimbledon (District Line), which also has rail and tramlink services from central London and beyond.
There is no parking available at the clinic, but we have a number of parking facilities all within a 10-12 minute walk of the clinic: Centre Court Car Park, Broadway Car Park, and Hartfield Road Car Park. Please note that all of these facilities are paid car parks.
The building at 22 Worple Road has steps leading up to the front entrance. If you require assistance please inform us before your arrival by calling ahead on 020 3195 2442
- 22 Worple RoadSW19 4DD
- 0203 195 2442
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- MRI Scan
Fortius Clinic Marylebone
Our Marylebone Clinic is conveniently located in the historic area between Baker Street and Marylebone High Street, just off Manchester Square, home to the iconic Wallace Collection. We have seven consulting rooms, private waiting areas on each floor, well equipped treatment rooms and diagnostic imaging.
- 17 Fitzhardinge StreetW1U 2EU
- 020 3195 2442
- MRI Scan
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
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