New Achilles Surgery

Recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon can be a long, painful process. Traditional surgery carries risks, and what’s left behind is a long, vertical scar on the back of the leg — an ugly reminder of a very bad injury. Now, a new type of surgery is a lot easier on the legs and “the eyes.”
Weronika Molinski was all set to start a new fitness lifestyle last summer, but one misstep changed everything.

Molinski explained, “It was irony, I guess, because I was just like yea, I’m finally fit, going to climb mountains in Colorado, and all of a sudden, you can’t walk for a few months.”

Weronika ruptured her Achilles tendon. Traditional surgery leaves behind a long, vertical scar. But Weronika’s doctor thought she’d make a good candidate for a new, minimally-invasive surgery.

Adam Schiff, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago told Ivanhoe, “I found the complications of that incision not healing to be the major problem with fixing Achilles tendons, and we’re always looking for newer, better ways to do this.”

The new surgery is like knitting. A device is used to attach sutures to the tendon, and pull the sutures outside and inside the skin. What’s left behind is a much smaller, horizontal scar.

“The benefit is, by making a small incision, you’re minimizing the risk associated with fixing a tendon repair,” Dr. Schiff explained.

“It was just great to finally walk again,” Molinksi said.

For Weronika, a safer recovery has made her that much more determined. “I just know it was a huge life lesson, and just to appreciate being able to walk,” she said.

Weronika is now training for a 5k run, one step at a time.

Experts say there may be less risk of infection for patients who undergo the newer procedure. Eight out of 10 people who undergo either traditional open surgery or the subcutaneous repair are able to return to sports after they heal.

Contributors to this news report include: Cyndy McGrath, Supervising Producer; Andy Roesgen, Field Producer; SubmitJamison Koczan, Videographer/Editor and Cortni Spearman, Assistant Producer.