When is surgery needed for tendon injuries?

Fernando Manalac, MD on behalf of Holy Cross Hospital

Sports Medicine

From the 1970s to 2000s, advanced treatment for tendinopathy (diseases of the tendon) was limited to surgery. Surgery is still the only clear fix for complete ruptures of tendons; if a tendon is torn in half, the only way to get perfect function is to reattach those two ends. However, performing surgery on strains (partial tears) that won’t heal (refractory tendinoses) may actually be excessive.

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Muscle & Connective Tissue Injuries

Muscle and connective tissue injuries include sprains and strains, which are the most common injuries for people engaged in physical sports. A sprain is an injury of a ligament, which connects our bones to each other. A strain is an injury that can occur to a muscle or a tendon, which connects our bones to our muscles. If you have a muscle or connective tissue injury, you will likely experience pain, swelling, and limited movement of that body part. Sometimes these injuries are evident as soon as they occur, while others take time to develop. Usually rest helps to heal the area, and ice can reduce swelling. If these remedies dont help you, physical therapy or surgery may be necessary for a full recovery.

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