Endoscopic surgery of the Achilles tendon

Abstract

The value of endoscopic surgery as a minimally invasive treatment is well recognized and includes less perioperative pain, less scarring, minimal blood loss, and faster recovery. While open surgery on the Achilles tendon is notorious for wound complications, the tendon is situated in a well-formed tunnel allowing surgical procedures to be performed endoscopically. Various endoscopic techniques have been successfully applied to the treatment of non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy, Haglund’s syndrome, Achilles tendon rupture, and equinus contracture. Although the evidence is currently limited, results from authors acquainted with the techniques have been encouraging. Both an understanding of surgical anatomy of the hindfoot and familiarity in soft tissue endoscopy are required to achieve successful outcomes while minimizing complications.