tendo achilles lengthening

[Guest guest]

My wife and my son both have been diagnosed with CMT. After the MDA

referral to an orthopedist, the doctors recommended tendo achilles

lengthening surgery for my seven year old son as his foot

contractures (drop foot) have developed too much to allow for less

invasive alternatives. They are planning for hard-casting after the

procedure and we're worrying about atrophy of muscles. Has anyone had

experience with this procedure? Any recommendations or thoughts? Is

there any specific information on the web regarding a thorough

description of the procedure? Thanks in advance.

Jim

[Guest guest]

Hi Jim,

Where are you located?

Have you gotten a second or third opinion? I had this surgery at 7. When I

was 18 I was told by Dr. Saul Bernstein in Southern California

that they use another procedure now. Another list member was told the same

thing across the country in New Hampshire about 7 years ago.

I didn't think they even did this surgery anymore. It make the feet so much

weaker. They usually try the series of castings at this age or night braces to

sleep in. I have my kids taking Vitamin C and that is helping a lot. I am

adding a little bit about Dr. Bernstein http://www.scoi.com/doctors/smb.htm..

[Guest guest]

Jim, I didn't have that exact surgery, but at age 11 I spent 6 weeks in

plaster casts following tendon surgery on both feet. No atrophy

occurred. Are you going to get a second opinion on this? My heart goes

out to you and your wife and young son. There was an article at

http://cmtworld.org on different surgical procedures you might want to

look at.

~ Gretchen

[Guest guest]

Jim, I have had the achilles tendon lengthening procedure. . There will be

some atrophy, but after the cast came off I had intensive physical therapy. It

seemed to help and I have many exercises I do at home. Best of luck to your

son, he will benefit greatly by the surgery. I sure did !

... Florida

[Guest guest]

Jim,

I just had surgery a little over 4 weeks ago on my right foot and the

Achilles tendon lengthening was one of the many procedures that was

performed. I did a lot of research before I went through with the foot

reconstruction and muscle atrophy was one of my many questions. When I was

in college I had a ganglion removed and ligaments repaired on my right ankle

and the orthopedic surgeon told me that I should be careful when someone

wants to cast me for any length of time due to the muscle atrophy. Before

this present surgery I asked the orthopedic surgeon that did this procedure

if being casted for 6 weeks is okay. He told me that I had to be and he

said the atrophy would not be a concern during that period of time. Plus,

he said I was young enough to withstand the physical therapy afterward. I

can feel the cast getting looser around my calf muscle so I know some

wasting is occurring however, I hope it's more the swelling going down. I

have less than two weeks to go in the cast so I will update you when it

comes off how much atrophy has occurred. If you would like to talk further

please free to e-mail me privately since I just went

through the procedure. I would be more than happy to give you some of my

experiences and insights.

[Guest guest]

Hi , Do you remember why they didn't do the achillies surgery when you

were a child?

[Guest guest]

Hi , Surgery was never an option when I was a child. I remember when I

was at the Mayo Clinic, Dr Dyck explained to me that I might run into

surgeons that want to cut and chop (Exact words he used) and he warned me

wait until I am at least done growing or until the pain tells me to have

surgery. I explored operative procedures many years ago but, I was so

active that I was not willing to give up recuperation time so I waited. I

am not sorry I waited this long however, my orthopedic surgeon said he

wished he could have done the surgery about 5 years ago as it would have

been a little less extensive. I am going to plan to have my left foot

operated on in about a year and that foot will not need as much

reconstruction.

Hopefully that answers your question.