Tendon Repair
What is Tendon repair?
Tendon repair is a surgical procedure to mend a torn or ruptured tendon, the fibrous tissue connecting muscle to bone, commonly in the hand (e.g., flexor tendons), shoulder (e.g., rotator cuff), or ankle (e.g., Achilles tendon). It’s performed to restore movement and strength after injury. In India, tendon repair is conducted in orthopedic or hand surgery departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for patients.
Why do you need Tendon repair?
Tendon repair is indicated for:
- Acute tendon injuries:
- Lacerations: Cuts severing tendons (e.g., flexor tendons in the hand from glass or knife injuries).
- Ruptures: Sudden tears (e.g., Achilles tendon during sports, rotator cuff from lifting).
- Chronic tendon injuries:
- Degenerative tears: Rotator cuff tears in older adults due to wear-and-tear.
- Delayed presentation: Untreated acute injuries causing loss of function.
- Associated conditions:
- Fractures or dislocations (e.g., biceps tendon rupture with shoulder dislocation).
- Common sites:
- Hand/wrist: Flexor/extensor tendons.
- Shoulder: Rotator cuff, biceps tendon.
- Ankle: Achilles tendon.
The procedure aims to reattach or suture the torn tendon ends, restoring continuity and function, often using sutures or anchors to secure the tendon to bone or itself.
Why Do Tendon Repair Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh:
- Procedure Type: Simple hand tendon repair (₹50,000–₹80,000); rotator cuff or Achilles repair (₹1–2 lakh).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹1–2 lakh); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS: ₹20,000–₹50,000, often subsidized under Ayushman Bharat).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Hand or orthopedic specialists charge more.
- Additional Costs: Anesthesia (₹5,000–₹15,000), hospital stay (₹5,000–₹15,000/day), anchors/grafts (₹10,000–₹30,000), physiotherapy (₹10,000–₹30,000 for 2–3 months).
- Insurance: Covered for functional issues (e.g., loss of motion); confirm with your provider.
Tendon Repair Procedure
- Before Surgery Evaluation:
- Diagnosis:
- Physical exam: Assesses loss of motion, strength (e.g., inability to flex finger, weak ankle push-off).
- Ultrasound/MRI: Confirms tendon tear, location, and retraction.
- Blood tests: Blood sugar, clotting profile (esp. for diabetics).
- Medications: Stop blood thinners (e.g., aspirin) 5–7 days prior if safe.
- Consent: Risks, including re-rupture, are explained.
- Diagnosis:
- Surgical Techniques:
- Tendon Repair:
- Performed under regional (e.g., brachial plexus block for hand) or general anesthesia, lasting 1–2 hours.
- Incision: Varies by site (e.g., 2–5 cm for hand flexor tendons, 5–10 cm for Achilles).
- Repair:
- Direct suture: Torn tendon ends sutured together using strong non-absorbable sutures (e.g., Kessler or Bunnell technique for hand tendons).
- Tendon-to-bone: Anchors reattach tendon to bone (e.g., rotator cuff repair with suture anchors).
- Graft (if needed): Tendon graft (e.g., palmaris longus) for chronic tears with retraction.
- Incision closed with sutures; a splint or cast is applied to protect the repair.
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Microsurgery instruments: For hand tendon repairs.
- Suture anchors: Secure tendon to bone (e.g., rotator cuff).
- Fluoroscopy: Guides anchor placement (if used).
- Tendon Repair:
- After Surgery:
- Hospital stay: Same-day discharge (hand tendons); 1–2 days (Achilles, rotator cuff).
- Care: Splint/cast for 4–6 weeks; keep incision dry; elevate the limb to reduce swelling.
- Pain management: Mild to moderate pain for 3–7 days; managed with analgesics (e.g., paracetamol).
- Instructions: Avoid active motion of the repaired tendon for 4–6 weeks; start protected physiotherapy early.
Recovery After Tendon Repair
- Hospital Stay: Same-day discharge (minor); 1–2 days (complex).
- Post-Surgery Care:
- Pain/Swelling: Peaks at 3–5 days; ice and elevation help; resolves in 1–2 weeks.
- Immobilization: Splint/cast for 4–6 weeks (e.g., Achilles: walking boot; hand: custom splint).
- Physiotherapy:
- Early (0–4 weeks): Protected passive motion (e.g., Duran protocol for hand tendons).
- Later (4–12 weeks): Active motion, strengthening (e.g., rotator cuff: scapular exercises).
- Activity: Varies by site:
- Hand: Light use in 6–8 weeks; full grip strength in 3–6 months.
- Achilles: Weight-bearing in 6–8 weeks; sports in 6–9 months.
- Rotator cuff: Overhead activities in 4–6 months.
- Follow-Up:
- Visits at 1 week, 2 weeks (suture removal), 1 month, and 3 months.
- Ultrasound/MRI (if needed): At 3 months to assess tendon healing.
Most resume normal activities in 2–6 months; full recovery takes 6–12 months. Success rate: 80–90% achieve restored function; outcomes vary (e.g., hand tendons: 70–80% regain full motion; Achilles: 85% return to sports).
Risks and Complications
- Surgical Risks:
- Infection (1–3%): Treated with antibiotics; may need debridement.
- Bleeding (1–2%): Hematoma; may need drainage.
- Nerve injury (1–2%): Numbness (e.g., sural nerve in Achilles repair); usually temporary.
- Post-Surgery:
- Re-rupture (2–5%): Higher in Achilles (early weight-bearing); may need revision surgery.
- Adhesions (5–10%): Tendon sticks to surrounding tissue (esp. hand); may need tenolysis.
- Stiffness (5–10%): Limited motion; managed with physiotherapy.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT, <1%, Achilles): Blood clot; prevented with early mobilization.
- Long-Term:
- Weakness (2–5%): Persistent strength deficit (e.g., rotator cuff); needs prolonged rehab.
- Scar sensitivity (2–5%): Tenderness at incision; improves in 3–6 months.
Report severe pain, swelling, fever, or loss of motion promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes tendon injuries?
Trauma (cuts, sports injuries), overuse (rotator cuff), or degeneration (aging, repetitive stress).
Can I avoid tendon repair?
Yes, if minor: Rest, physiotherapy, or bracing; surgery is for complete tears or significant functional loss.
Is tendon repair painful?
Mild to moderate pain for 3–7 days, managed with medication; discomfort reduces in 1–2 weeks.
How soon can I resume activities?
Light use: 6–8 weeks (hand); normal activities: 2–6 months; sports: 6–12 months (Achilles, rotator cuff).
Is tendon repair covered by insurance in India?
Yes, for functional issues; confirm with your provider.
Signs of complications?
Severe pain, swelling, fever, or loss of motion.
Will I regain full function after surgery?
80–90% regain good function; full recovery depends on tendon type and rehab adherence.
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Follow protected motion protocols, avoid early overuse, attend physiotherapy, and monitor for complications.
Conclusion
Tendon repair is an effective procedure to restore function and reduce pain after tendon injuries, with a high success rate when paired with proper rehabilitation. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable care, typically covered by insurance. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach surgery confidently. Consult an orthopedic or hand surgeon for personalized guidance.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Tendon repair
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Ahmedabad |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Ajmer |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Aligarh |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Allahabad |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Amritsar |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Aurangabad |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Bangalore |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Bareilly |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Belgaum |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Bhopal |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Bikaner |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Chandigarh |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Chennai |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Coimbatore |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Dehradun |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Delhi |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Dhanbad |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Durgapur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Faridabad |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Ghaziabad |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Gorakhpur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Guntur |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Gurgaon |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Guwahati |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Gwalior |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Hyderabad |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Indore |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Jabalpur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Jaipur |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Jalandhar |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Jamshedpur |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Jodhpur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Kanpur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Kochi |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Kolkata |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Kollam |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Lucknow |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Ludhiana |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Madurai |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Mangalore |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Meerut |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Moradabad |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Mumbai |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Mysore |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Nagpur |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Nashik |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Noida |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Patna |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Pune |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Raipur |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Rajkot |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Ranchi |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Surat |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Thane |
80,000 |
3,00,000 |
Vadodara |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Varanasi |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
70,000 |
2,50,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.