Atlanta Bone and Joint Specialists
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    • Maurice Jové, M.D.
    • Nathan Jové, M.D.
    • Jeff Traub, M.D.
    • Brian Vanderhoof, D.O.
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      • Omid Midanaky, PA-C
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        • Arthritis 101
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        • Total Knee Replacement
        • Anterior Reference Knee Replacement
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        • Ankle Sprains and Instability
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      • Stem Cell Therapy
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      • PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Injections
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      • Carpal Tunnel Sydnrome
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      • Distal Radius Fracture
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    • Orthopedic Survey Center >
      • Outpatient Total Joint Replacement Survey
      • Painful Knee Replacement Survey
      • Painful Hip Replacement Survey
      • Rotator Cuff Surgery Survey
      • Meniscus Tear Survey
      • Partial Knee Replacement Survey
    • FAQ
    • How to Prepare and What to Expect Knee Surgery
    • Blog
  • Español
  • Online Scheduling
  • Home
  • Our Doctors
    • Maurice Jové, M.D.
    • Nathan Jové, M.D.
    • Jeff Traub, M.D.
    • Brian Vanderhoof, D.O.
    • Physician Assistants >
      • Omid Midanaky, PA-C
      • Aidan O'Connor, MPH, PA-C
      • Elissa Ricker, PA-C
  • Locations
  • Appointments
    • Online Scheduling
    • Forms
    • Referrals
    • Independent Medical Examination
    • Telemedince and E-Visits >
      • E-Visit Scheduler
    • Saturday Clinic
    • What To Expect
    • Medical Tourism
  • Our Office
    • About Us
    • Social Media >
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • LinkedIN
      • Twitter
      • YouTube
    • Orthopedic Expert Witness
    • Conditions Treated
    • Payments
    • Bracing
    • Office Staff >
      • Office Manager >
        • Brian Pallone
      • Front Desk & Checkout >
        • Decatur
        • Loganville >
          • Meagan
        • Snellville >
          • Cheryl
      • Billing & Collections >
        • Maurice Jové, M.D. >
          • Buffie
        • Nathan Jové, M.D. >
          • Mayra
          • Makenzie
        • Jeff Traub, M.D. >
          • Jennifer
          • Liz
      • Scheduling >
        • Jeff Traub, M.D. >
          • Andrea
        • Maurice Jové, M.D. >
          • Rachael
        • Nathan Jové, M.D. >
          • Lindsay
        • Brian Vanderhoof, D.O. >
          • Megan
      • Radiology >
        • David
        • Rebecca
        • Carla
        • Oscar
      • Medical Records >
        • Team
    • Insurance
    • MRI
    • Medical Records >
      • Decatur
      • Loganville
      • Snellville
    • Prescription Refill Request >
      • Decatur
      • Loganville
    • Reviews
    • Affiliate Hospital Resources >
      • Emory Decatur Hospital
    • Marketing Internship
    • Job Opportunities
  • Patient Education
    • Coronavirus Update Page
    • What is an Orthopedic Doctor
    • Joint Replacement Center >
      • Arthritis Center >
        • Arthritis 101
      • Hip >
        • Anterior Hip Replacement
        • Total Hip Replacement
      • Knee >
        • Total Knee Replacement
        • Anterior Reference Knee Replacement
        • Knee Replacement Surgery Recovery
        • Partial Knee Replacement
        • Patellofemoral Replacement
        • Tourniquet-less Knee Replacement
      • Shoulder >
        • Total Shoulder Replacement
        • Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
      • Outpatient Joint Replacement Center
      • Metal Sensitivity and Nickel Allergy
      • Revision Surgery >
        • Revision Knee Replacement
        • Revision Hip Replacement Surgery
        • Metal on Metal Hip Problems
      • Infections >
        • Hip and Knee Replacement Infections
    • Sports Medicine Program >
      • Arthroscopic Surgery
      • Shoulder >
        • Rotator Cuff Tears
        • SLAP Tears
        • Labral Tears
      • Knee >
        • Meniscus Tears
        • ACL Tears
        • Patella (Kneecap) Instability
        • Patella (Kneecap) Dislocation
      • Foot and Ankle >
        • Ankle Sprains and Instability
        • Achilles Tendon Tears
      • Concussions
    • Regenerative Medicine >
      • Stem Cell Therapy
      • Cartilage Restoration
      • PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Injections
      • Hyaluronic Gel Injections
    • EMG
    • Hip Fracture Center
    • Hand Surgery >
      • Carpal Tunnel Sydnrome
      • Cubittal Tunnel Syndrome
      • Trigger Finger
    • Fracture (Broken Bone) Center >
      • Distal Radius Fracture
      • Ankle Fractures
    • Blood Clots After Orthopedic Surgery
    • Learning Center
    • Home Therapy
    • Video
    • Orthopedic Survey Center >
      • Outpatient Total Joint Replacement Survey
      • Painful Knee Replacement Survey
      • Painful Hip Replacement Survey
      • Rotator Cuff Surgery Survey
      • Meniscus Tear Survey
      • Partial Knee Replacement Survey
    • FAQ
    • How to Prepare and What to Expect Knee Surgery
    • Blog
  • Español
  • Online Scheduling

Achilles Tendon Tears

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Get ready for your comeback
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The Achilles Tendon

The Achilles tendon is one of the largest tendons in the body.  It connects the calf muscles, the gastrocnemius and soleus, to the foot via the calcaneus bone.  The Achilles tendon functions to plantar flex the foot, or more easily conceptualized, the act of putting your foot down onto a gas pedal.  The Achilles tendon is vulnerable to tearing due to extreme pressures it experiences over a lifetime.
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I felt a "POP" behind my ankle when I landed.

Pop. 
We hear it almost every time.  Athletes such as basketball players will say that when they landed they felt an immediate pop.  The athlete will usually fall down and be unable to put pressure on the leg.  The back of the ankle swells quickly and patients often go to the ER.  "It felt like someone kicked me in the back of the ankle," said one of our patients.  Another said "it felt like I got a charley horse immediately after I landed."  These are two of the more common complaints patients with Achilles injuries experience. 

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Surgery?  Or not?

Contrary to popular belief, not all Achilles tendons need to be fixed.  Although current guidelines recommend that we repair Achilles tendon in young athletes, those who are older and over 60 may benefit from wearing a special walking boot that lets the Achilles tendon heal in place.  To our knowledge, data suggests that surgical repair has a lower retear rate than conservative management, however, surgery does have its risks as well.  Each patient is individualized for their care and the surgeon will determine which management will be best for you.  Factors such as age, activity level, history of diabetes and weight all factor into the decision to do surgery.
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A demonstaration of what an Achilles tendon tear looks like.

Surgical Repair

Achilles tendon repair is most commonly performed in healthy athletes.  Most patients under 50 will opt to have their tendon repaired.  Nonsurgical repair and surgical repair the same immobilization period and due to lower retear rates with surgery, most patients prefer to have their Achilles tendon fixed.
Fixation is usually performed with stitches into the tendon then putting it back together.

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A drawing representing how Achilles tendons are stitched back together in surgery.
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Picture of a torn Achilles tendon during surgery. Note the plantaris tendon, the white tendon, is intact. This was a difficult repair as it was a chronic tear.

Rehabilitation

Achilles tendon repairs take a long time to recover from.   We routinely keep Achilles tendon repairs in plantar-flexion in order to reduce the stress on the repair for the first few weeks.  Around 4 weeks, protected weight bearing is initiated.  Casting or using a boot are options for the first 4 weeks after surgery.  After protected weight bearing, patients at 6 weeks are allowed to put all of their weight on their surgical leg.  Between 4-6 weeks, and depending on the repair, therapy is initiated.  Therapy early in the postoperative period focuses on increasing motion and later on excercises to strengthen the calf muscles. 
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A boot used after Achilles tendon repairs
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  • Prior blood clot or pulmonary embolus
    • the #1 predictor of having another clot
  • Factor 5 Leiden
  • Von Willdebrands disease
  • Venous Statsis
  • Extensive immobilization after surgery
  • Lower Extremity surgery
  • Oral Contraceptive Birth Control

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Office Hours

Mon-Fri: 9AM-5PM  


Telephone

Decatur                             404.296.5005
Loganville                         770.564.3393
Snellville                           770.985.9330

High School Football Season Added Coverage Hours

Saturdays During High School Football Season
Injury Clinic is for INJURED PLAYERS ONLY.
Snellville
ONLY.
9AM-10AM

MEDIA ROOM