Tendon Injuries and Diseases in Ankara, Turkey

Tendon injuries and diseases occur as a result of damage to the tendon structures that connect muscles to bone. They may develop due to traumatic ruptures, repetitive strain, or degenerative changes. Loss of function and pain are the most common symptoms.

Acute tendon injuries usually occur due to sharp-object trauma or sudden strain. They are common in mobile regions such as the hand, ankle, and shoulder. Diagnosis is made by clinical examination, and in some cases ultrasound or MRI imaging may be required.

Inflammatory tendon disorders such as tendinitis and tenosynovitis are chronic conditions, especially related to repetitive movements. The elbow, shoulder, and wrist are common sites where such conditions are frequently seen. Rest, medication, and physical therapy are the main approaches.

Tendon surgery is preferred in full-thickness tears and cases that do not respond to conservative treatments. Tendon ends are joined using microsurgical techniques. Postoperative rehabilitation is vital for the tendon to regain its former function.

Things You Should Know Information
Definition Tendons are connective tissues that attach muscles to bones. Their injuries or diseases cause limitations in movement functions and pain.
Tendon Injuries They may occur due to laceration by a sharp object, sudden strains (for example sports injuries), direct trauma, or excessive stretching.
Commonly Injured Tendons Achilles tendon, finger flexor and extensor tendons, patellar tendon, rotator cuff tendons (shoulder), biceps tendon.
Tendon Diseases Tendinitis (inflammation), tendinosis (degeneration), tenosynovitis (inflammation of the tendon sheath), calcific tendinitis; tendinopathy is the general term.
Symptoms Swelling, tenderness, pain (especially increasing with movement), decreased muscle strength, limited range of motion, sudden sense of gap in ruptures.
Diagnostic Methods Physical examination, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), EMG when necessary.
Causes of Tendinitis Overuse, repetitive movements, poor posture, inappropriate exercise, aging, systemic diseases such as diabetes.
Findings of Tendon Rupture Sudden severe pain, loss of function (for example inability to pull the ankle upward in Achilles rupture), bruising, sense of gap along the tendon line.
Treatment of Mild Cases Rest, ice application, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, use of splint/brace, physical therapy.
Treatment of Severe Cases Surgical repair (suturing the tendon ends), tendon graft or transfer, followed by a rehabilitation process.
Surgical Techniques End-to-end tendon repair, repair with graft, tendon gliding or transfer (restoring function via another tendon).
Rehabilitation Process After protective splinting, passive and active exercises, strengthening program, ensuring muscle-tendon balance.
Recovery Time Although it varies depending on the type of condition, full functional recovery after surgery generally takes 8–12 weeks.
Complications Adhesions, insufficient healing, re-rupture of the tendon, joint stiffness, muscle weakness.
Prevention Methods Proper exercise technique, warm-up and cool-down habits, regular stretching to maintain muscle-tendon balance, avoiding overloading.
Related Departments Orthopedics and traumatology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, plastic surgery (especially hand surgery).
Prof. Dr. Serdar Nasır
Specialist in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Hand Surgery

He completed his medical education at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine in 1996 and his specialty training between 1996–2002 at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery.

Between 2002–2009, he worked at Süleyman Demirel University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery.

Since 2009, he has been working at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. He received the title of Associate Professor in 2011. In 2019, Dr. Nasır became a Professor and continues to work as a faculty member in this position.

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    What Are Tendon Injuries and Diseases?

    Tendon injuries and diseases are clinical conditions that arise when tendon tissue that connects muscles to bones is damaged due to overuse, trauma, aging, or inflammatory processes. The most common conditions include tendinitis, tendinosis, and tendon tears. They may present with pain, restricted movement, and loss of strength. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are important to prevent permanent functional loss.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Tendon injuries usually occur during sudden strains, falls, heavy lifting, or sudden turns during sports. The hand, shoulder, knee, and Achilles tendon are particularly prone to such strains.

    Tendon diseases are more common in occupations involving intense repetitive movements, for example carpenters, cashiers, musicians, and those who work at a computer for long periods.

    Tendon ruptures are typically marked by sudden pain, an audible sound, and loss of movement. Tendinitis, on the other hand, tends to present with insidious onset, pain that increases with movement, and tenderness. MRI is helpful in diagnosis.

    Tendinitis that is left untreated for a long time can cause structural changes such as permanent thickening, calcification, or tears in the tendon. This can lead to restricted movement and chronic pain.

    PRP (platelet-rich plasma) treatment is used to accelerate the repair of tendon tissue. It can support healing especially in tendinitis and small tears, but it may not be effective in every case.

    The recovery process after tendon repair usually takes 6–12 weeks. During this period, movement restriction and physiotherapy are applied so that re-loading the tendon is provided in a controlled manner.

    The Achilles tendon is a structure that bears heavy load and is exposed to sudden stretching. Especially in sports such as football, basketball, and running, this area becomes more prone to trauma and the risk of rupture increases.

    With age, tendons lose elasticity and their blood supply decreases. This increases the risk of tears or inflammation even with minor strains. Underlying chronic diseases are also a factor.

    Passive movements are generally started within the first few weeks after surgery. Then, with the doctor’s approval, active exercises are initiated. The treatment process varies depending on the tendon location and the size of the tear.

    Because of prolonged pain, restricted movement, and loss of work capacity, tendon problems can lead to psychological issues such as depression and anxiety. Therefore, a holistic treatment approach is necessary.

    For tendon injuries and diseases, the Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery department can be consulted. Plastic surgeons specializing in hand surgery treat both acute tendon lacerations and chronic tendon disorders with microsurgical techniques.